Biophysics is the field of biology that applies the tools and techniques of physics to the study of life processes. These tools include electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electrophoresis (see Diffraction (Uses of diffraction); Electrophoresis; Magnetic resonance imaging). Biophysicists use these tools to investigate the molecular structure of proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, and parts of cells, such as chromosomes and ribosomes.
A principal goal of biophysics is to determine the relationship between the structure of a molecule and its biological function. For example, in photosynthesis, the process by which plants make food, chlorophyll molecules absorb light energy and transform it into chemical energy. Through X-ray diffraction, biophysicists located and determined the structure of specialized reaction centers where this energy transformation occurs. Research with spectroscopic instruments then provided details of processes within the reaction centers. Such studies have furthered understanding of photosynthesis.
