Statistical Mechanics of Cellular Systems and Processes

Addresses fundamental physical principles governing cellular structure and function with implications in clinical and biomedical contexts.

Traditionally, statistical mechanics-based treatment of biological systems has focused on the molecular level, with larger systems being ignored. This book fills that gap, addressing recent developments in the field, in particular, the multi-scale nature of biological problems, ranging from the genetic to the multi-cellular, tissue and organ level.Cells are complex objects, representing a multitude of structures and processes. In order to understand the organization, interaction and hierarchy of these structures and processes, a quantitative understanding is absolutely critical. Traditionally, statistical mechanics-based treatment of biological systems has focused on the molecular level, with larger systems being ignored. This book integrates understanding from the molecular to the cellular and multi-cellular level in a quantitative framework that will benefit a wide audience engaged in biological, biochemical, biophysical and clinical research. It will build new bridges of quantitative understanding that link fundamental physical principles governing cellular structure and function with implications in clinical and biomedical contexts.