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Mathematical biology
From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
Mathematical biology or
biomathematics is an
interdisciplinary field of
academic study which aims at
modelling natural,
biological processes using
mathematical techniques and
tools. It has both practical and
theoretical applications in
biological research.
Applying mathematics to biology
has a long history, but only
recently has there been an
explosion of interest in the
field. Some reasons for this
include:
the explosion of data-rich
information sets, due to the
genomics revolution, which
are difficult to understand
without the use of analytical
tools,
recent development of
mathematical tools such as
chaos theory to help
understand complex, nonlinear
mechanisms in biology,
an increase in
computing power which
enables calculations and
simulations to be performed
that were not previously
possible, and
an increasing interest in
in silico experimentation
due to the complications
involved in human and animal
research.
Modelling the movement of
interacting cell populations
[11]
Mathematical modelling of
scar tissue formation
[12]
These examples are
characterised by complex,
nonlinear mechanisms and it is
being increasingly recognised that
the result of such interactions
may only be understood through
mathematical and computational
models. Due to the wide diversity
of specific knowledge involved,
biomathematical research is often
done in collaboration between
mathematicians, physicists,
biologists, physicians,
zoologists, chemists etc.
J.D. Murray, Mathematical
Biology. Springer-Verlag,
3rd ed. in 2 vols.:
Mathematical Biology: I. An
Introduction, 2002
ISBN 0387952233;
Mathematical Biology: II.
Spatial Models and Biomedical
Applications, 2003
ISBN 0387952284.
L. Edelstein-Keshet,
Mathematical Models in Biology.
SIAM, 2004.
ISBN 0075549506
L.A. Segel, Modeling
dynamic phenomena in molecular
and cellular biology. C.U.P.,
1984.
ISBN 052127477X
F. Hoppensteadt,
Mathematical theories of
populations: demographics,
genetics and epidemics.
SIAM, Philadelphia, 1975
(reprinted 1993).
ISBN 0898710170
S.I. Rubinow,
Introduction to mathematical
biology. John Wiley, 1975.
ISBN 0471744468
A. Goldbeter, Biochemical
oscillations and cellular
rhythms. C.U.P., 1996.
ISBN 0521599466
E. Renshaw, Modelling
biological populations in space
and time. C.U.P., 1991.
ISBN 0521448557
