Mathematical biology

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.

Research

Below is a list of some areas of research in mathematical biology and links to related projects in various universities:

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Population dynamics

Population dynamics has traditionally been the dominant field of mathematical biology. Work in this area dates back to the 19th century. The Lotka-Volterra predator-prey equations are a famous example.

Related Topics:
Population dynamics - 19th century - Lotka-Volterra predator-prey equations

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Modelling cell and molecular biology

This area has received a boost due to the growing importance of molecular biology.

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• Modelling of neurons and carcinogenesis http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/research/groups/biology/kal.htm
• Mechanics of biological tissues http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/~rwo/research_areas.htm
• Theoretical enzymology and enzyme kinetics http://www.informatics.indiana.edu/schnell/research/enzymology.asp
• Cancer modelling and simulation http://calvino.polito.it/~biomat/
• Modelling the movement of interacting cell populations http://www.ma.hw.ac.uk/~jas/researchinterests/index.html
• Mathematical modelling of scar tissue formation http://www.ma.hw.ac.uk/~jas/researchinterests/scartissueformation.html

Modelling physiological systems

• Modelling of arterial disease http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/~nah/research_interests.html
• Multi-scale modelling of the heart http://www.integrativebiology.ox.ac.uk/heartmodel.html

Spatial modelling

One classic work in this area is Alan Turing's paper on morphogenesis entitled The Chemical Basis of Morphogenesis, published in 1952 in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

Related Topics:
Alan Turing - Morphogenesis - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society

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• Travelling waves in a wound-healing assay http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/~maini/public/gallery/twwha.htm
• Swarming behaviour http://www.math.ubc.ca/people/faculty/keshet/research.html
• The mechanochemical theory of morphogenesis http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/~maini/public/gallery/mctom.htm
• Biological pattern formation http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/~maini/public/gallery/bpf.htm

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.

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