Truman State University
Departments of Biology and Mathematics & Computer Science
BIOL/MATH 345: Introduction to Mathematical Biology
Course Description
Students will study papers drawn from research literature in which mathematics is used
to model biological systems, encompassing the molecular level to the community level of organisms.
Topics from matrix algebra, differential equations, discrete mathematics, probability and statistics
will be introduced and developed through lectures, readings, and a computer lab. Data will be drawn from a variety of sources,
including student laboratory experiments, research papers, and scientific databases.
The course meets for two hours of lectures and two hours of biology/computer lab each week.
Prerequisites
MATH 198 and (BIOL 100 or BIOL 107) with grades of C or better.
Course History
2005 (M.Adams & M.Kelrick):
(no textbook)
- Scaling, allometry and metabolic rate
- Respiratory physiology
- Single species population dynamics
- Bioinformatics
2006 (M.Kelrick & Ph.Ryan):
(no textbook)
- Scaling, allometry and metabolic rate
- Respiratory physiology
- Single species population dynamics
- Host-parasitoid dynamics
2008 (J.Gering & P.Ryan):
2009 (M.Adams & M.Kelrick):
(no textbook)
- Allometry
- Population dynamics
- Evolutionary Game Theory
- Bioinformatics
2010 (A.Weisstein & P.Ryan):
Mathematical Models in Biology: An Introduction,
Allman & Rhodes
- Dynamic modeling with difference equations
- Linear models of structured populations
- Nonlinear models of interactions (Predator-Prey)
- Modeling molecular evolution
- Constructing phylogenetic trees
- Infectious disease modeling
2011 (A.Weisstein & S.Thatcher):
Mathematical Models in Biology: An Introduction,
Allman & Rhodes
- Dynamic modeling with difference equations
- Linear models of structured populations
- Nonlinear models of interactions (Predator-Prey)
- Modeling molecular evolution
- Constructing phylogenetic trees
- Infectious disease modeling