Question: when do you use physics in your work

Jeremy Green answered on 21 Jun 2011:

Although I’m a biologist, I use physics quite a lot in my work – which is nice because I’ve always liked physics.

For example, quite a lot of what we do involves using sophisticated microscopes and understanding how light works – i.e. physics – is part of that. We use different wavelengths of light to detect different components of cells using a technique called “laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy”. The “laser scanning confocal” bit involves directing the laser at one tiny part of the specimen at a time, which allows you to get super-good focus. By scanning across the specimen you build up a whole picture all with super-good focus. The fluorescence part is to use special stains for the cells that glow with one colour when you use light of a different (bluer) colour. This gives you sensitivity, and involves quantum physics because you have to know which wavelengths of light to use.

We are also trying to build an accurate computer simulation of growing tissue that includes the physics of the cells. This project is at an early stage, but it’s very exciting. When we have the simulation, we can see if it behaves like the real growing tissue under physical tension or compression. We will learn the most if we are wrong!! That’s because we will find out that what we thought the physics is – and so the rules that we used to design the simulation – will have to be adjusted.