Biophysical techniques are scientific methods that utilize physical principles and tools to study biological systems at various levels of complexity. The scope of biophysical techniques is broad, and includes the study of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, as well as cellular structures and processes, tissues, organs, and whole organisms.
The historical development of biophysical techniques can be traced back to the early 20th century, when scientists such as Max von Laue and William Bragg developed X-ray crystallography as a method to determine the structure of crystals, including biological molecules. In the decades that followed, other biophysical techniques were developed, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electron microscopy (EM), and fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy, among others.
The development of biophysical techniques has been driven by advances in physics, chemistry, and engineering, as well as by the need to understand biological systems at a molecular and cellular level. Biophysical techniques have revolutionized our understanding of biological systems, and have contributed to the development of new drugs, therapies, and technologies. Today, biophysical techniques continue to be a vital tool in the study of biological systems, and are used by scientists across a wide range of disciplines, including biochemistry, cell biology, physiology, and medicine.