Nanoscale biological systems operate in the presence of overwhelming viscous drag and thermal diffusion, thus invalidating the use of macroscopically oriented thinking to explain such systems. Rectified Brownian motion (RBM), in contrast, is a distinctly nanoscale approach that thrives in thermal environments.The thesis discusses both the foundations and applications of RBM, with an emphasis on nano-biology.Results from stochastic non-equilibrium steady state theory are used to motivate a compelling definition for RBM.It follows that RBM is distinct from both the so-called power stroke and Brownian ratchet approaches to nanoscale mechanisms.Several physical examples provide a concrete foundation for these theoretical arguments.Notably, the molecular motors kinesin and myosin V are proposed to function by means of a novel RBM mechanism: strain-induced bias amplification.The conclusion is reached that RBM is a versatile and robust approach to nanoscale biology.
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