Columns

• Common misconceptions in biology: Misconceptions around diffusion and osmosis

  

  Many biological phenomena, like respiration, osmoregulation or nerve conduction, have a basis in physical processes like diffusion and osmosis. Definitions and diagrams may contain nuances that students may miss, especially when these are not viewed through the lens of physics. In this article, Nagarjuna G., Former Professor, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR gives examples of some of these misconceptions and offers simple simulations to provide a more accurate picture of these processes.

  Posted on Jul 23, 2021 in Biophysics, Teaching, Undergraduate & School Education

  ---

• Magnetic Nanomotors: “nano-voyagers” inside cells

  

  In this next article in our series on interdisciplinarity, we explore how a physicist and biologist duo (Ambarish Ghosh, Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and Deepak Saini, Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, IISc, Bangalore) combined their expertise to create a nanomotor system that can be precisely and accurately manoeuvred inside biological cells.

  Posted on Nov 09, 2018 in Biophysics, Research & Interdisciplinarity

  ---

• In conversation with Minhaj Sirajuddin

  

  inStem researcher Minhaj Sirajuddin joins the EMBO Young Investigator network.

  Posted on Oct 25, 2016 in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Career Development & Funding

  ---

• Curiosity, crystals, cockroaches

  https://youtu.be/mu0vtRZMuIM

  Behind the now-popular story of cockroach milk are ten years' of efforts by researchers to decode the structure of heterogeneous protein micro-crystals taken from the roaches' guts—a technologically difficult exercise that has never been done before.

  Posted on Aug 02, 2016 in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biophysics & Research

  ---

• Going places: an interview with Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

  

  Nobel Laureate Venki Ramakrishnan talks about the changes in his career, his engagement with Indian science and his plans for the Royal Society.

  Posted on Aug 14, 2015 in Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Personal Experience & Research

  ---

• Biosensors – An overview of the field in India

  A biosensor is an analytical device, which combines a bioreceptor - a biological recognition element - and a transducer. The bioreceptor can be organisms, tissues, cells, enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, etc and detects the target analyte while the transducer can be electrochemical, optical, thermal or mechanical in nature and converts the recognition event into a measurable signal. This is where the interaction between disciplines, like materials, electrical engineering and physics, … More

  Posted on Nov 20, 2013 in Biotechnology, Biophysics & Research

  ---

• INSA Young Scientist Award

  

  Recognition of one’s achievements is always gratifying. Awards therefore play an important role as a mark of professional recognition within the scientific community. The INSA Young Scientist Award was established in 1974 to distinguish scientists who have made notable contribution within their field. Each year, 30 promising scientists below the age of 35 are selected by a committee for the award. Nominations are called for each year around April/May and … More

  Posted on Feb 05, 2013 in Biophysics

  ---