BIOL 235
Biological Modeling with Differential Equations
Last Offered Fall 2006
Division III Quantative/Formal Reasoning
Cross-listed MATH 335 / ENVI 235 / BIOL 235
This course is not offered in the current catalog or this is a previous listing for a current course.

Many biological phenomena can best be examined through fairly sophisticated mathematical models. In particular, differential equation models have been used to explain fluctuations in food webs, the spread of disease, consequences of certain fishing practices, immune system response to infection, spatial distribution of species, formation of zebra stripes, and flux across cell membranes. We will introduce the mathematical machinery needed for these models, including the theory of ordinary differential equations, phase portrait dynamics, and partial differential equations. We will establish the biological assumptions that go into these models and examine the consequent dynamics. Students will work in pairs covering material and explaining it to one another, presenting worked problems, and critiquing each others presentations.