Dynamical Models in Biology

Dynamic Models in Biology offers an introduction to modern mathematical biology. This book 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, agricultural engineers, and environmentalists.

Key Topics Include:

Chaotic dynamics of populationsThe spread of sexually transmitted diseasesProblems of the origin of lifeModels of immunologyFormation of animal hide patternsThe intuitive meaning of mathematical formulae explained with many figuresApplying new mathematical results in modeling biological phenomena

Miklos Farkas is a professor at Budapest University of Technology where he has researched and instructed mathematics for over thirty years. He has taught at universities in the former Soviet Union, Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Nigeria, India, and Columbia. Prof. Farkas received the 1999 Bolyai Award of the Hungarian Academy of Science and the 2001 Albert Szentgyorgyi Award of the Hungarian Ministry of Education.

A 'down-to-earth' introduction to the growing field of modern mathematical biologyAlso includes appendices which provide background material that goes beyond advanced calculus and linear algebra

Preface

Discrete Population Models
Population Dynamics in Continuous Time
Epidemics
Evolution and Population Genetics
Morphogenesis and Pattern Formation

Appendix 1 Discrete Mathematics
Appendix 2 Ordinary Differential Equations
Appendix 3 Partial Differential Equations
Appendix 4 Riemannian Geometry

References
Index