Course title
N08466003
Biophysics

 YOSHIMURA Kenjiro
Course description
For designing machines and software for human use, it is important to know how human feel and use them. The elaborate mechanisms of the sensors and motile machineries that various living organisms have accumulated during evolution are full of clues for designing novel things. In this class, you will learn the basics of the human senses including vision, mechanical sense, and chemical sense along with the mechanisms how vertebrates and invertebrates perceive information for the environment. You will study a broad range of motile machineries from macroscopic system such as muscles to molecular system of cell and intracellular motility.
Purpose of class
The aim of this class is to understand the sensory and motile mechanisms in various organisms, to comprehend the elaborate survival tactics, and to obtain clues to manufacturing.
Goals and objectives
  1. I can explain the basic mechanisms for human sensation.
  2. I can explain the basic structure and mechanism for muscle, a motile machinery in living organisms
  3. I can explain some sensors and motile machinery in various living organisms.
Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

 Quiz mid exam final exam Total.
1. 3% 15% 15% 33%
2. 3% 15% 15% 33%
3. 4% 15% 15% 34%
Total. 10% 45% 45% -
Language
Japanese(English accepted)
Class schedule

 Class schedule HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) Amount of Time Required
1. Introduction Review using handout 190minutes
2. Conduction of information in living organ
+Nervous activity
+ Frequency coding 		Review using handout 190minutes
3. Measuring electrical activities in living organisms
+Measurement with electrodes
+ Visualization by NMR and MRI
Electrical stimulation
+ AED 		Review using handout 190minutes
4. Electric organ: electric ray and eel
Electroreception: electrolocation, elecrtocommunication 		Review using handout 190minutes
5. Vision 1: Structure of eye
+ Visual acuity and eye resolution
+ Focus adjustment 		Review using handout 190minutes
6. Vision 2: Information processing in vision
+ Lateral inhibition
+ Information processing in vision and deep learning 		Review using handout 190minutes
7. Midterm test
Mechanoreception 1: sense of touch, muscle spindle 		Review using handout 190minutes
8. Mechanoreception 2: hearing, sense of equilibrium and acceleration
+ Echolocation in bats
+ Information processing in hearing 		Review using handout 190minutes
9. Thermoreception
+ Heat and cold receptors in human
+ Pit organ in snakes 		Review using handout 190minutes
10. Muscle contraction 1
+ Force production by striated muscle 		Review using handout 190minutes
11. Muscle contraction 2
+ Functional classification of muscles
+ Frog jumping, fish swimming, and insect flight muscle 		Review using handout 190minutes
12. Energetics of animal locomotion
+ Energy cost of locomotion by body weight
+ Comparison of energy cost among running, flying, and swimming 		Review using handout 190minutes
13. Movement and collision: physical characteristics of biological materials and wound
Blood circulation: viscosity of blood, turbulence, and blood pressure 		Review using handout 190minutes
14. Final exam and discussion Review using handout 190minutes
Total. - - 2660minutes
Evaluation method and criteria
Evaluation is based on quiz, midterm, and final exam.
Students who can explain correctly 60% of the key words related to the "Goals and Objectives" will get a grade of 60.
Feedback on exams, assignments, etc.
ways of feedback specific contents about "Other"
Feedback in the class 試験のフィードバックは授業中に行う。
Textbooks and reference materials
Textbook: Physics in Biology and Medicine, 4th edition, Paul Davidovits
Reference: Animal Physiology - Molecular mechanisms and diversity, Oka, Y. et al., Maruzen Shoten
Prerequisites
Those who did not study biology in high school can understand this class. Those who studied biology in high school can obtain new viewpoints and deeper understanding.
Office hours and How to contact professors for questions
  • Anytime after appointment through e-mail (Kenjiro Yoshimura, kenjiroy@shibaura-it.ac.jp)
Regionally-oriented
Non-regionally-oriented course
Development of social and professional independence
  • Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge
  • Course that cultivates a basic problem-solving skills
Active-learning course
More than one class is interactive
Course by professor with work experience
Work experience Work experience and relevance to the course content if applicable
N/A N/A
Education related SDGs:the Sustainable Development Goals
  • 3.GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
  • 13.CLIMATE ACTION
  • 14.LIFE BELOW WATER
  • 15.LIFE ON LAND
Last modified : Sat Mar 01 04:08:51 JST 2025