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PV: Plenarvorträge

PV II

PV II: Preisträgervortrag

Montag, 27. März 2006, 09:45–10:30, ZEU 255

Biophysics of Cells: Active Matter in Motion — •Frank Jülicher — Max Planck Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Dresden — Träger des Robert-Wichard-Pohl-Preises

A fascinating feature of living cells is their inherently dynamic nature which is exemplified by the ability to generate spontaneous motion. A prototype system to study dynamics and active processes in cells is the cytoskeleton, a complex gel-like filament network which governs the material properties of cells. Complex cellular dynamics is driven by active processes on the molecular scale, for example the action of motor molecules. On the cellular scale, this activity can result in new material properties, emergent collective modes and spontaneous movements which play an important role for processes such as cell locomotion and cell division. Active cellular processes are also directly involved in the amplification of mechanical vibrations by sensory cells of our ear. The nonlinear and active properties of this cellular amplifier are essential to endow the ear with its exquisite abilities to detect sound.