Proteins and Biological Matter

This lecture introduces Theoretical Biophysics, focusing on the application of physics-based methods to understand biological matter. Topics include protein structure inference, evolution at molecular and population scales, and the use of molecular simulations. The lecture explores the properties of biological membranes, lipid bilayers, and complex membranes, emphasizing the role of physics in understanding soft and active matter. It also covers statistical physics models in biophysics, such as allostery and random walks, and their applications in analyzing biological data. The instructor discusses the prediction of protein structures from sequence data and inferring interaction partners, showcasing methods like Direct Coupling Analysis and Iterative Pairing Algorithm.