Dynamical models in biology (Q2725722)

This book offers an introduction to modern mathematical biology. It provides a short introduction to modern mathematical methods in modeling dynamical phenomena and treats the broad topics of population dynamics, epidemiology, evolution, immunology, morphogenesis and pattern formation. Primarily employing differential equations, the author presents accessible descriptions of difficult mathematical models. Recent mathematical results are included, but the author's presentation gives intuitive meaning to all the main formulae. Besides mathematicians who want to get acquainted with this relatively new field of applications, this book is useful for physicians, biologists, and agricultural engineers.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe key topics include: Chaotic dynamics of populations; The spread of sexually transmitted diseases; Problems of the origin of life; Models of immunology; Formation of animal hide patterns; The intuitive meaning of mathematical formulae explained with many figures; Applying new mathematical results in modeling biological phenomena.NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe first two chapters deal with population dynamics. Chapter 3 explores the spread of epidemics and Chapter 4 the fundamental principles of population genetics. The last, Chapter 5, gives an overview of René Thom's elementary cstastrophe theory. At the end, there are four Appendices containing mathematical notions.