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Published in:
2014 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
1. Introduction
Author : Jürgen Jost
Published in: Mathematical Methods in Biology and Neurobiology
Publisher: Springer London
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Abstract
Questions:
Biology does not have the clear structure of mathematics. Nevertheless, it possesses some fundamental concepts. The gene is the unit of coding, function, and inheritance. It contains the information for a phenotypic trait that is realized in interaction with contributions from the environment and transmitted to offspring. The cell is the basic unit within which metabolic processes can take place. The species is the dynamic pool for genetic recombination. An organism is a carrier of genes, an organized ensemble of cells and a member of a population or species. Mathematical methods to study biological phenomena can be taken from algebra, analysis, stochastics, or geometry, but should always be developed with a clear vision of the biological problems to be addressed.
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What can mathematics contribute to biology, and which mathematical theories are useful for that purpose?