Coursera Flash Sale
40% Off Coursera Plus for 3 Months!
Grab it
Explore the fascinating world of cellular biology through a physics lens in this Saturday Science lecture that examines the mysterious droplet structures found within living cells. Delve into the physical principles governing liquid-liquid phase separation in biological systems, discovering how cells organize their internal components through the formation of membrane-less organelles. Learn about the thermodynamics and kinetics behind droplet formation, coalescence, and dissolution within the cellular environment. Investigate cutting-edge research on how these cellular droplets contribute to essential biological processes including gene regulation, protein synthesis, and stress response mechanisms. Understand the role of intrinsically disordered proteins and RNA in driving phase separation phenomena. Examine experimental techniques used to study these structures, from fluorescence microscopy to optical tweezers, and discover how physicists are uncovering the fundamental rules that govern cellular organization. Gain insights into the implications of droplet dysfunction in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, and explore how this emerging field bridges physics, chemistry, and biology to reveal new therapeutic targets.
