Mathematical Models in Biology - An Introduction

Hardcover  384 pp 65 diags 40 tabs 375 exercises  ISBN 0521819806      £65.00

Softcover  384 pp 65 diags 40 tabs 375 exercises  ISBN 0521819806      £28.00

This introductory textbook on mathematical biology focuses on discrete models across a variety of biological subdisciplines. Biological topics treated include linear and non-linear models of populations, Markov models of molecular evolution, phylogenetic tree construction, genetics, and infectious disease models. The coverage of models of molecular evolution and phylogenetic tree construction from DNA sequence data is unique among books at this level. Computer investigations with MATLAB are incorporated throughout, in both exercises and more extensive projects, to give readers hands-on experience with the mathematical models developed. MATLAB programs accompany the text. Mathematical tools, such as matrix algebra, eigenvector analysis, and basic probability, are motivated by biological models and given self-contained developments, so that mathematical prerequisites are minimal.

Contents

1. Dynamic modeling with different equations; 2. Linear models of structured populations; 3. Non-linear models of interactions; 4. Modeling molecular evolution; 5. Constructing phylogenic trees; 6. Genetics; 7. Infectious disease modeling; 8. Curve fitting and biological modeling; Appendix A. Basic analysis of numerical data; Appendix B. For further reading.