Mechanics of the Cell

New edition exploring the mechanical features of biological cells for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics and biomedical engineering.

David Boal (Author)

9780521113762, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 January 2012

622 pages, 282 colour illus. 283 exercises
25.3 x 19.5 x 3.1 cm, 1.5 kg

'This book is by a physicist attempting to get across the underlying physical principles behind biological structures … a very useful text, which fills a hole in the literature, and will serve as a useful reference for a number of years to come.' John Seddon, Chemistry Industry

Exploring the mechanical features of biological cells, including their architecture and stability, this textbook is a pedagogical introduction to the interdisciplinary fields of cell mechanics and soft matter physics from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. This second edition has been greatly updated and expanded, with new chapters on complex filaments, the cell division cycle, the mechanisms of control and organization in the cell, and fluctuation phenomena. The textbook is now in full color which enhances the diagrams and allows the inclusion of new microscopy images. With around 280 end-of-chapter exercises exploring further applications, this textbook is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics and biomedical engineering. A website hosted by the author contains extra support material, diagrams and lecture notes, and is available at www.cambridge.org/Boal.

Preface
List of symbols
1. Introduction to the cell
2. Soft materials and fluids
Part I. Rods and Ropes: 3. Polymers
4. Complex filaments
5. Two-dimensional networks
6. Three-dimensional networks
Part II. Membranes: 7. Biomembranes
8. Membrane undulations
9. Intermembrane and electrostatic forces
Part III. The Whole Cell: 10. Structure of the simplest cells
11. Dynamic filaments
12. Growth and division
13. Signals and switches
Appendixes
Glossary
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH], Mathematics & science [P]