Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- To the memory of J. B. S. Haldane
- Introduction
- 1 Some consequences of scale
- 2 Population regulation: generations separate
- 3 Population regulation: generations not separate
- 4 The genetics of families
- 5 The genetics of populations
- 6 Target theory
- 7 Regulation and control
- 8 Diffusion and similar processes
- Appendices
- Suggestions for further reading
- Answers to examples
- Index
Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- To the memory of J. B. S. Haldane
- Introduction
- 1 Some consequences of scale
- 2 Population regulation: generations separate
- 3 Population regulation: generations not separate
- 4 The genetics of families
- 5 The genetics of populations
- 6 Target theory
- 7 Regulation and control
- 8 Diffusion and similar processes
- Appendices
- Suggestions for further reading
- Answers to examples
- Index
Summary
My aim in this book has been to show that mathematical reasoning is sometimes illuminating in biology.
It is widely assumed—particularly by statisticians—that the only branch of mathematics necessary for a biologist is statistics. I do not share this view. Statistics is necessary to biologists, because no two organisms are identical. But I have the feeling that statistics, and particularly that branch of it which deals with significance tests, has been over-sold. In any case, there are a number of admirable text books of statistics intended for biologists, and consequently I have nothing to add here. In contrast, I am concerned in this book with those branches of mathematics—primarily differential equations, recurrence relations and probability theory—which can be used to describe biological processes. The advantage which biologists would gain from a knowledge of these subjects has been largely ignored. The reason for this neglect is I think as follows. It is comparatively easy to learn the calculus, and there are a number of excellent books from which it can be learnt. But unfortunately it is very difficult to turn biological problems into differential equations. Consequently few biologists bother to learn the calculus, since they cannot see what they would do with it if they knew it. It is this problem of the translation of biological problems into mathematical terms which is my main topic.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Mathematical Ideas in Biology , pp. 1 - 5Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1968