[This is the old program from WS 2006/07. The current program and contact information can be found here.]

16 October 2006, 17:00

Hsuan-Yi Chen (Department of Physics and Graduate School of Biophysics, National Central University, Taiwan)
Models of nonequilibrium domains in biomembranes [Abstract]

03 November 2006, 16:00

Ichiro Tsuda (Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)
Modeling episodic brain memory [Abstract]

17 November 2006, 16:00

Marc-Thorsten Hütt (School of Engineering and Science, International University Bremen IUB)
Exploring biological networks with dynamic probes [Abstract]

24 November 2006, 16:00

Yuka Tabe (Department of Applied Physics, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan)
Dissipative structures in molecular thin films [Abstract]

01 December 2006, 16:00, Habervilla, Faradayweg 8

Carsten Beta (Department of Fluid Dynamics, Pattern Formation and Nanobiocomplexity, MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen)
Directional sensing - an experimental approach based on microfluidics

Abstract:
Directional sensing - the ability of a cell to detect chemical gradients with high precision - has been intensively studied in recent years by the use of fluorescent fusion proteins. A number of models have been proposed to describe the initial symmetry breaking in the sub-cellular pattern of signaling proteins. Further progress in this field will rely on experimental techniques to examine the theoretical predictions. This requires quantitative control of chemical stimuli on the length scale of individual cells, with a temporal resolution that matches the time scales of the intracellular signaling events. We combine microfluidic techniques with the photo-chemical release of caged signaling agents to expose single cells to well-defined stimuli with high spatial and temporal resolution. Gradients of well-controlled shape can be generated on micrometer length scales and sub-second switching times between different concentration profiles can be readily achieved. We apply this approach to quantify intracellular translocation of fluorescently labeled proteins in chemotactic Dictyostelium cells responding to complex stimuli with cAMP.

19 January 2007, 16:00

James Sneyd (Dept. of Mathematics, University of Auckland, New Zealand)
Calcium oscillations: Using mathematics to do physiology [Abstract]

02 February 2007, 16:00

Vadim N. Biktashev (Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK)
Asymptotic approaches to cardiac excitation models [Abstract]

16 February 2007, 16:00

Chaiya Luengviriya (Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Universität Magdeburg)
Scroll wave instabilities in a chemical excitable medium [Abstract]