Models help us understand the dynamics of real-world processes by using the computer to mimic the actual forces that are known or assumed to result in a system's behavior. This book does not require a substantial background in mathematics or computer science.

An overview of current models of biological systems, reflecting the major advances that have been made over the past decade.

The book presents nine mini-courses from a summer school, Dynamics of Biological Systems, held at the University of Alberta in 2016, as part of the prestigious seminar series: Séminaire de Mathématiques Supérieures (SMS). It includes new and significant contributions in the field of Dynamical Systems and their applications in Biology, Ecology, and Medicine. The chapters of this book cover a wide range of mathematical methods and biological applications. They - explain the process of mathematical modelling of biological systems with many examples, - introduce advanced methods from dynamical systems theory, - present many examples of the use of mathematical modelling to gain biological insight - discuss innovative methods for the analysis of biological processes, - contain extensive lists of references, which allow interested readers to continue the research on their own. Integrating the theory of dynamical systems with biological modelling, the book will appeal to researchers and graduate students in Applied Mathematics and Life Sciences.

From the spontaneous rapid firing of cortical neurons to the spatial diffusion of disease epidemics, biological systems exhibit rich dynamic behaviour over a vast range of time and space scales. Unifying many of these diverse phenomena, Dynamics of Biological Systems provides the computational and mathematical platform from which to understand the underlying processes of the phenomena. Through an extensive tour of various biological systems, the text introduces computational methods for simulating spatial diffusion processes in excitable media, such as the human heart, as well as mathematical tools for dealing with systems of nonlinear ordinary and partial differential equations, such as neuronal activation and disease diffusion. The mathematical models and computer simulations offer insight into the dynamics of temporal and spatial biological systems, including cardiac pacemakers, artificial electrical defibrillation, pandemics, pattern formation, flocking behaviour, the interaction of autonomous agents, and hierarchical and structured network topologies. Tools from complex systems and complex networks are also presented for dealing with real phenomenological systems. With exercises and projects in each chapter, this classroom-tested text shows students how to apply a variety of mathematical and computational techniques to model and analyze the temporal and spatial phenomena of biological systems. MATLAB® implementations of algorithms and case studies are available on the author’s website.

Dynamical Systems for Biological Modeling: An Introduction prepares both biology and mathematics students with the understanding and techniques necessary to undertake basic modeling of biological systems. It achieves this through the development and analysis of dynamical systems.The approach emphasizes qualitative ideas rather than explicit computa

The emerging, multi-disciplinary field of systems biology is devoted to the study of the relationships between various parts of a biological system, and computer modeling plays a vital role in the drive to understand the processes of life from an holistic viewpoint. Advancements in experimental technologies in biology and medicine have generated an enormous amount of biological data on the dependencies and interactions of many different molecular cell processes, fueling the development of numerous computational methods for exploring this data. The mathematical formalism of Petri net theory is able to encompass many of these techniques. This essential text/reference presents a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge research in applications of Petri nets in systems biology, with contributions from an international selection of experts. Those unfamiliar with the field are also provided with a general introduction to systems biology, the foundations of biochemistry, and the basics of Petri net theory. Further chapters address Petri net modeling techniques for building and analyzing biological models, as well as network prediction approaches, before reviewing the applications to networks of different biological classification. Topics and features: investigates the modular, qualitative modeling of regulatory networks using Petri nets, and examines an Hybrid Functional Petri net simulation case study; contains a glossary of the concepts and notation used in the book, in addition to exercises at the end of each chapter; covers the topological analysis of metabolic and regulatory networks, the analysis of models of signaling networks, and the prediction of network structure; provides a biological case study on the conversion of logical networks into Petri nets; discusses discrete modeling, stochastic modeling, fuzzy modeling, dynamic pathway modeling, genetic regulatory network modeling, and quantitative analysis techniques; includes a Foreword by Professor Jens Reich, Professor of Bioinformatics at Humboldt University and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. This unique guide to the modeling of biochemical systems using Petri net concepts will be of real utility to researchers and students of computational biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, computer science, and biochemistry.

Dynamic Systems Biology Modeling and Simuation consolidates and unifies classical and contemporary multiscale methodologies for mathematical modeling and computer simulation of dynamic biological systems – from molecular/cellular, organ-system, on up to population levels. The book pedagogy is developed as a well-annotated, systematic tutorial – with clearly spelled-out and unified nomenclature – derived from the author's own modeling efforts, publications and teaching over half a century. Ambiguities in some concepts and tools are clarified and others are rendered more accessible and practical. The latter include novel qualitative theory and methodologies for recognizing dynamical signatures in data using structural (multicompartmental and network) models and graph theory; and analyzing structural and measurement (data) models for quantification feasibility. The level is basic-to-intermediate, with much emphasis on biomodeling from real biodata, for use in real applications. - Introductory coverage of core mathematical concepts such as linear and nonlinear differential and difference equations, Laplace transforms, linear algebra, probability, statistics and stochastics topics - The pertinent biology, biochemistry, biophysics or pharmacology for modeling are provided, to support understanding the amalgam of "math modeling with life sciences - Strong emphasis on quantifying as well as building and analyzing biomodels: includes methodology and computational tools for parameter identifiability and sensitivity analysis; parameter estimation from real data; model distinguishability and simplification; and practical bioexperiment design and optimization - Companion website provides solutions and program code for examples and exercises using Matlab, Simulink, VisSim, SimBiology, SAAMII, AMIGO, Copasi and SBML-coded models - A full set of PowerPoint slides are available from the author for teaching from his textbook. He uses them to teach a 10 week quarter upper division course at UCLA, which meets twice a week, so there are 20 lectures. They can easily be augmented or stretched for a 15 week semester course - Importantly, the slides are editable, so they can be readily adapted to a lecturer's personal style and course content needs. The lectures are based on excerpts from 12 of the first 13 chapters of DSBMS. They are designed to highlight the key course material, as a study guide and structure for students following the full text content - The complete PowerPoint slide package (~25 MB) can be obtained by instructors (or prospective instructors) by emailing the author directly, at: [email protected]

From controlling disease outbreaks to predicting heart attacks, dynamic models are increasingly crucial for understanding biological processes. Many universities are starting undergraduate programs in computational biology to introduce students to this rapidly growing field. In Dynamic Models in Biology, the first text on dynamic models specifically written for undergraduate students in the biological sciences, ecologist Stephen Ellner and mathematician John Guckenheimer teach students how to understand, build, and use dynamic models in biology. Developed from a course taught by Ellner and Guckenheimer at Cornell University, the book is organized around biological applications, with mathematics and computing developed through case studies at the molecular, cellular, and population levels. The authors cover both simple analytic models--the sort usually found in mathematical biology texts--and the complex computational models now used by both biologists and mathematicians. Linked to a Web site with computer-lab materials and exercises, Dynamic Models in Biology is a major new introduction to dynamic models for students in the biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

This book develops the mathematical tools essential for students in the life sciences to describe interacting systems and predict their behavior. From predator-prey populations in an ecosystem, to hormone regulation within the body, the natural world abounds in dynamical systems that affect us profoundly. Complex feedback relations and counter-intuitive responses are common in nature; this book develops the quantitative skills needed to explore these interactions. Differential equations are the natural mathematical tool for quantifying change, and are the driving force throughout this book. The use of Euler’s method makes nonlinear examples tractable and accessible to a broad spectrum of early-stage undergraduates, thus providing a practical alternative to the procedural approach of a traditional Calculus curriculum. Tools are developed within numerous, relevant examples, with an emphasis on the construction, evaluation, and interpretation of mathematical models throughout. Encountering these concepts in context, students learn not only quantitative techniques, but how to bridge between biological and mathematical ways of thinking. Examples range broadly, exploring the dynamics of neurons and the immune system, through to population dynamics and the Google PageRank algorithm. Each scenario relies only on an interest in the natural world; no biological expertise is assumed of student or instructor. Building on a single prerequisite of Precalculus, the book suits a two-quarter sequence for first or second year undergraduates, and meets the mathematical requirements of medical school entry. The later material provides opportunities for more advanced students in both mathematics and life sciences to revisit theoretical knowledge in a rich, real-world framework. In all cases, the focus is clear: how does the math help us understand the science?