Statistical Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this introduction to the physical chemistry of biological systems, connecting macroscopic thermodynamic properties to microscopic molecular behavior through statistical mechanics. Topics cover chemical potentials, equilibrium states, binding cooperativity, macromolecule behavior in solution and at interfaces, and solvation. Example problems draw from protein structure, genomic analysis, single molecule biomechanics, and biomaterials, grounding the theory in real biological engineering applications. The course, cross-listed under Biological Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, includes lecture notes, problem sets, and course materials typical of MIT OCW offerings, freely available under a Creative Commons license. It suits students with a background in chemistry or physics who want to see how statistical mechanics underlies molecular biology and biomaterials research. No certificate is offered, consistent with MIT OCW's open publication model, but full course content is provided for self-study.