Measuring Individual Biological Molecules with Visible Light

Professor Everett Lipman

UCSB Physics

Technological advances during the past two decades have enabled the observation of individual DNA, RNA, and protein molecules. Single-molecule methods allow us to examine properties and behavior of these building blocks of life which were previously cloaked by ensemble averaging.
I will describe how my group has used these methods to learn about stiff biopolymers and the folding of protein molecules. I will also discuss how graduate training in physics is an excellent foundation for quantitative study of the machinery of life.