Mathematical Biology (M3A21/M4A21)

The aim of the course is to describe the application of mathematical models to biological phenomena. A variety of contexts in human biology and diseases are considered, as well as problems typical of particular organisms and environments.

The syllabus includes topics from:

• Population dynamics. Growth and spatial spread of organisms. Fisher's equation.
• Epidemiology - the spread of plagues.
• Reaction-Diffusion models: Turing mechanism for pattern formation.
  How the leopard got his spots (and sometimes stripes).
• Enzyme Kinetics and chemical reactions: Michaelis-Menten theory.
  Hormone cycles, neuron-firing.
• Mass transport; Taylor dispersion.
• Biomechanics: Blood circulation, animal locomotion: swimming, flight.
  Effects of scale and size.
• Other particular problems from biology.