8.592J-HST.452J: Statistical Physics in Biology

Spring 2022

NB. This outline is subject to change as term progresses.


TENTATIVE OUTLINE

Monday  January 31
L1: (MK) Introduction and evolving probabilities

Wednesday February 2
L2: (LM in person) Elements of population genetics

Friday  February 4
L3:   (LM in person) Fitness landscapes

Monday   February 7
L4: (LM in person) Population genetics of cancer

Wednesday  February 9
L5: (MK) Forward Kolmogorov equation

Friday February 11
L6:  (MK) Backward Kolmogorov equation

Monday February 14 
L7: (AKC) viral fitness landscapes I

Wednesday February 16 
L8: (AKC) viral fitness landscapes II

Friday February 18
No class, Assignment 1 due

Monday, February 21 (MIT Holiday)

Tuesday February 22 (MIT Monday schedule)  No class

Wednesday, February 23
L9: (MK) Electrostatic forces

Friday, February 25 
L10  (LM via zoom) Forces in biology

Monday  February 28
L11 (MK) polymer phases

Wednesday March 2
L12  (MK) Compact polymers and REM

Friday March 4
No class, Assignment 2 due

Monday March 7
L13 (LM via zoom)  protein folding energetics

Wednesday March 9
L14 (LM via zoom)  protein folding kinetics

Friday March 11
No class, Final project proposal due

Monday March 14
L15 (MK)  DNA

Wednesday  March  16
L16   (MK)   RNA

Friday 3/18 
No class, Assignment 3 due

Monday 3/21 - Friday 3/25 MIT Spring break

Monday 3/28
L17  (MK) Microtubules

Wednesday 3/30
L18 (MK) Motors

Friday April 1
L19 (LM via zoom)  Cooperativity

Monday April 4
L20 (LM via zoom)  protein-DNA energetics

Wednesday April 6
L21 (LM via zoom)  protein-DNA kinetics

Friday April 8
No class, Assignment 4 due

Monday  April 11
L22 (AKC) Thymic selection

Wednesday April 13
L23  (AKC) Affinity maturation

Friday April 15
L24 (LM via zoom) Introduction to networks
(AKC may need the first 1/2 hour to finish his block of lectures)

Monday 4/18
MIT Holiday

Wednesday 4/20  
L25 (MK) Network structure

Friday 4/22
No class 
Assignment 5 due

Monday 4/25
L26 (MK) Dynamics on a network

Wednesday 4/27
L27  (MK) Clocks

Friday April 29
L28 (MK)  patterns

Monday May 2
L29 (LM in person)  Chromatin 1

Wednesday May 4
L30 (LM in person) Chromatin 2

Friday May 6
No class, Assignment 6 due

Monday May 9
L31 (LM) Chromatin 3 (if needed)


  • 8.592 Course Outline - last update 1/17/22 by M. Kardar