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An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits (Chapman & Hall/Crc Mathematical and Computational Biology Series)
Uri Alon Manufacturer: Chapman & Hall/CRC ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1584886420 |
Book Description
Thorough and accessible, this book presents the design principles of biological systems, and highlights the recurring circuit elements that make up biological networks. It provides a simple mathematical framework which can be used to understand and even design biological circuits. The text avoids specialist terms, focusing instead on several well-studied biological systems that concisely demonstrate key principles. An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits builds a solid foundation for the intuitive understanding of general principles. It encourages the reader to ask why a system is designed in a particular way and then proceeds to answer with simplified models.
Customer Reviews:
Clear, rigorous, fascinating.......2007-01-20
Building Mathematical Models of Cells.......2006-09-25
Great Job.......2006-09-09
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Introduction to Computational Biology: Maps, Sequences and Genomes (Interdisciplinary Statistics)
Michael S. Waterman Manufacturer: Chapman & Hall/CRC ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0412993910 |
Book Description
Biology is in the midst of a era yielding many significant discoveries and promising many more. Unique to this era is the exponential growth in the size of information-packed databases. Inspired by a pressing need to analyze that data, Introduction to Computational Biology explores a new area of expertise that emerged from this fertile field- the combination of biological and information sciences. This introduction describes the mathematical structure of biological data, especially from sequences and chromosomes. After a brief survey of molecular biology, it studies restriction maps of DNA, rough landmark maps of the underlying sequences, and clones and clone maps. It examines problems associated with reading DNA sequences and comparing sequences to finding common patterns. The author then considers that statistics of pattern counts in sequences, RNA secondary structure, and the inference of evolutionary history of related sequences. Introduction to Computational Biology exposes the reader to the fascinating structure of biological data and explains how to treat related combinatorial and statistical problems. Written to describe mathematical formulation and development, this book helps set the stage for even more, truly interdisciplinary work in biology.
Customer Reviews:
A modern classic.......2003-10-15
The first few chapters deal with the "digest problem," reconstructing a DNA or protein sequence from the fragment sizes of enzyme digests. The technique is not used as much now as it was then, but it's always good to know the background of modern techniques.
The digest problem doesn't stand alone, though. It introduces concepts - islands, anchors, etc. - that still matter. The problems in reconstructing molecules from digests yield the same kinds of intermediate results and the same ambiguities that arise in modern sequencing. As Waterman advances the discussion, shotgun sequencing appears as a logical extension, at least mathematically, of digest assembly.
Sequence assembly involve end matching, perhaps in the presence of sequencing errors. That introduces the topic for which Waterman's name is famous, approximate string matching. The next few chapter progress through dynamic programming and multiple alignments. The logical connections between the techniques shown are so tight that chapter boundaries are almost artificial. It was a real pleasure to see the computational and practical relationships laid out.
The final topics, RNA structure and phylogenetic trees, lack the continuity that characterized the first dozen chapters. The RNA structure may be the weakest chapter in the book, but still a very competent introduction.
Throughout, Waterman emphasizes mathematical rigor without insisting on uninformative theorems. Every topic is presented in rich detail, with special attention to scoring and background models. Perhaps there are newer discussions of some topics. I don't know of any clearer discussions, though. Best, I think, is how Waterman prepares the reader to ask all the right questions in any future discussion: what are the elements of the computation, how can elements be recombined, how good is a result, and how does the result stand out from the statistical background.
The final chapter is what a bibliography should be. It doesn't just list authors, titles, and dates of publication. It actually discusses the contribution that each source made to this book. Rather than leave the reader to wander aimlessly among obscure titles, Waterman shows which sources are most informative on which topics. I wish more authors took the time for such commentary.
This is a book worth having. It covers topics that I haven't seen elsewhere, and shows how many different topics relate to each other. It is rigorous without giving distracting detail. Most of all, it keeps the biology in sight of all calculations. Some authors seem to forget that anything exists but the arithmetic; Waterman puts the math clearly in the service of its subject. I enjoyed it immensely, and look forward to applying its content in my own research.
Packed full of good information.......2000-08-13
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Epidemic Modelling: An Introduction (Cambridge Studies in Mathematical Biology)
D. J. Daley , and J. Gani Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0521014670 |
Book Description
This general introduction to the mathematical techniques needed to understand epidemiology begins with an historical outline of some disease statistics dating from Daniel Bernoulli's smallpox data of 1760. The authors then go on to describe simple deterministic and stochastic models in continuous and discrete time for epidemics taking place in either homogeneous or stratified (nonhomogeneous) populations. They offer a range of methods for constructing and analyzing models, mostly in the context of viral and bacterial diseases of human populations. These models are contrasted with models for rumors and macro-parasitic diseases. Questions of fitting data to models, and the use of models to understand methods for controlling the spread of infection, are discussed. Exercises and complementary results at the end of each chapter extend the scope of the text.Customer Reviews:
A Foundation Book.......2007-05-16
Great Service.......2007-02-02
Excellent Text.......2005-05-14
Old-fashioned.......2004-11-04
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Mathematical Models in Biology: An Introduction
Elizabeth S. Allman , and John A. Rhodes Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0521525861 |
Book Description
Focusing on discrete models across a variety of biological subdisciplines, this introductory textbook includes linear and non-linear models of populations, Markov models of molecular evolution, phylogenetic tree construction from DNA sequence data, genetics, and infectious disease models. Assuming no knowledge of calculus, the development of mathematical topics, such as matrix algebra and basic probability, is motivated by the biological models. Computer research with MATLAB is incorporated throughout in exercises and more extensive projects to provide readers with actual experience with the mathematical models.
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An Introduction to Mathematical Biology
Linda J.S. Allen Manufacturer: Prentice Hall ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0130352160 |
Book Description
KEY BENEFIT: This reference introduces a variety of mathematical models for biological systems, and presents the mathematical theory and techniques useful in analyzing those models. Material is organized according to the mathematical theory rather than the biological application. Contains applications of mathematical theory to biological examples in each chapter. Focuses on deterministic mathematical models with an emphasis on predicting the qualitative solution behavior over time. Discusses classical mathematical models from population , including the Leslie matrix model, the Nicholson-Bailey model, and the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model. Also discusses more recent models, such as a model for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus - HIV and a model for flour beetles. KEY MARKET: Readers seeking a solid background in the mathematics behind modeling in biology and exposure to a wide variety of mathematical models in biology.
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An Introduction to Mathematical Physiology and Biology (Cambridge Studies in Mathematical Biology)
J. Mazumdar Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 0521646758 |
Book Description
This textbook is concerned with the mathematical modeling of biological and physiological phenomena for mathematically sophisticated students. A range of topics are discussed: diffusion population dynamics, autonomous differential equations and the stability of ecosystems, biogeography, pharmokinetics, biofluid mechanics, cardiac mechanics, the spectral analysis of heart sounds using FFT techniques. The last chapter deals with a wide variety of commonly used medical devices. This edition includes new chapters on epidemiology, including modeling the spread of AIDS through a population. Coverage is based on courses taught by the author over many years and the material is class tested. The reader is aided by many exercises that examine key points and extend the presentation in the body of the text. All students of mathematical biology will find this book to be a highly useful resource.
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Introduction to Theoretical Neurobiology (Cambridge Studies in Mathematical Biology)
Henry C. Tuckwell Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0521022223 |
Book Description
The human brain contains billions of nerve cells whose activity plays a critical role in the way we behave, feel, perceive, and think. This two-volume set explains the basic properties of a neuron--an electrically active nerve cell--and develops mathematical theories for the way neurons respond to the various stimuli they receive. Volume 1 contains descriptions and analyses of the principle mathematical models that have been developed for neurons in the past thirty years. It provides a brief review of the basic neuroanatomical and neurophysiological facts that will form the focus of the mathematical treatment. Tuckwell discusses the mathematical theories, beginning with the theory of membrane potentials. He then goes on to treat the Lapicque model, linear cable theory, and time-dependent solutions of the cable equations. He concludes with a description of Rall's model nerve cell. Because the level of mathematics increases steadily upward from Chapter Two some familiarity with differential equations and linear algebra is desirable.Customer Reviews:
The most mathematically cogent introduction to electrophysiology.......2007-02-28
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Introduction to Theoretical Neurobiology (Cambridge Studies in Mathematical Biology)
Henry C. Tuckwell Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 052101932X |
Book Description
The second part of this two-volume set contains advanced aspects of the quantitative theory of the dynamics of neurons. It begins with an introduction to the effects of reversal potentials on response to synaptic input. It then develops the theory of action potential generation based on the seminal Hodgkin-Huxley equations and gives methods for their solution in the space-clamped and nonspaceclamped cases. The remainder of the book discusses stochastic models of neural activity and ends with a statistical analysis of neuronal data with emphasis on spike trains. The mathematics is more complex in this volume than in the first volume and involves numerical methods of solution of partial differential equations and the statistical analysis of point processes.Customer Reviews:
The most mathematically cogent introduction to electrophysiology.......2007-02-28
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Computational Molecular Biology: An Introduction
Peter Clote , and Rolf Backofen Manufacturer: Wiley ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 0471872520 |
Book Description
Recently molecular biology has undergone unprecedented development generating vast quantities of data needing sophisticated computational methods for analysis, processing and archiving. This requirement has given birth to the truly interdisciplinary field of computational biology, or bioinformatics, a subject reliant on both theoretical and practical contributions from statistics, mathematics, computer science and biology.Customer Reviews:
Don't start with this book.......2004-02-13
This book is not very good as an introduction. First read some other book such as Setubal and Meidanis, "Introduction to Computational Molecular Biology"; or Krane & Raymer, "Fundamental Concepts of Bioinformatics". These books have more readable narrative and examples.
The writing in this book is obtuse. It is written like an advanced abstract math book, not like an ostensibly applied science book. The notation is unnecessarily intricate. Even though it says "Introduction" in the title, there are very few tutorial examples. This is just for mathematicians/computer scientists: no biologist I have ever known would/could read this and really understand the algorithms.
This book does, however, have one of the more complete detailed descriptions of various algorithms used for sequence matching, etc. If you have read some other books and are looking for more details on algorithms, then this is your book. But I'm still waiting for THE ultimate Computational Biology book!
Unsuitable for its stated purpose........2001-03-21
That said, the mathematical rigor of the text makes it ideal for students who have moved beyond the need for accessible surveys and wish to improve their fundamental understanding of the field.
Interesting but not very good for beginners.......2000-11-23
Despite the above critique I like the book. Organization of this text is interesting and distinctly different form other books in the field. Chapters on sequence alignment and phylogenetic trees are most interesting and original. They should probably be read in conjunction with more systematic textbooks such as Gusfield's "Algorithms on strings, trees and sequences" or Li's "Molecular evolution." Despite many misgivings (see the beginning paragraph of this review) the mathematical primer (chapter 2) is very much worth reading for its originality and compactness. Particularly sections about probability distributions and combinatorial optimization can be useful for non-mathematicians and interesting for those who are mathematically literate. However, care should be exercised (see the beginning paragraph) while reading sections about entropy and about optimality of the genetic code. Chapter 1 about principles of molecular biology is not very good for non-biologists because it is too compact. Chapter about structure prediction is also too compact to be either understandable to non-specialists or enjoyable by the experts. If the authors' ambitious approach was to be sustained, this chapter should probably be expanded to the size of entire book. Exercises at the end of every chapter of the book are interesting and worth the reader's attention. It would probably be good to have access to solutions of all exercises but it is a minor problem.
In summary: it is an interesting book but it should be read in conjunction with other texts. It should not be recommended to the beginners in computational biology. Mathematically seasoned readers will enjoy reading selected parts of this book. It would be nice if the publisher could consider lowering price of this book (already in paperback.)
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An Introduction to Structured Population Dynamics (CBMS-NSF Regional Conference Series in Applied Mathematics)
J. M. Cushing Manufacturer: Society for Industrial Mathematics ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 0898714176 |
Book Description
Interest in the temporal fluctuations of biological populations can be traced to the dawn of civilization. How can mathematics be used to gain an understanding of population dynamics? This monograph introduces the theory of structured population dynamics and its applications, focusing on the asymptotic dynamics of deterministic models. This theory bridges the gap between the characteristics of individual organisms in a population and the dynamics of the total population as a whole. In this monograph, many applications that illustrate both the theory and a wide variety of biological issues are given, along with an interdisciplinary case study that illustrates the connection of models with the data and the experimental documentation of model predictions. The author also discusses the use of discrete and continuous models and presents a general modeling theory for structured population dynamics.Books:
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