This volume features highlights from the DIMACS Special Year on "Mathematical Support for Molecular Biology". Top researchers presented both new research results and comprehensive overviews on the use of mathematics (especially discrete mathematics) and theoretical computer science in molecular biology. The book provides a unique "snapshot" of this growing area of study. It will be of interest to both experts and novices seeking information on the state of the research.
Calculations for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: A Guide to Mathematics in the Laboratory, Second Edition, provides an introduction to the myriad of laboratory calculations used in molecular biology and biotechnology. The book begins by discussing the use of scientific notation and metric prefixes, which require the use of exponents and an understanding of significant digits. It explains the mathematics involved in making solutions; the characteristics of cell growth; the multiplicity of infection; and the quantification of nucleic acids. It includes chapters that deal with the mathematics involved in the use of radioisotopes in nucleic acid research; the synthesis of oligonucleotides; the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method; and the development of recombinant DNA technology. Protein quantification and the assessment of protein activity are also discussed, along with the centrifugation method and applications of PCR in forensics and paternity testing. - Topics range from basic scientific notations to complex subjects like nucleic acid chemistry and recombinant DNA technology - Each chapter includes a brief explanation of the concept and covers necessary definitions, theory and rationale for each type of calculation - Recent applications of the procedures and computations in clinical, academic, industrial and basic research laboratories are cited throughout the text New to this Edition: - Updated and increased coverage of real time PCR and the mathematics used to measure gene expression - More sample problems in every chapter for readers to practice concepts
Interest in theoretical biology is rapidly growing and this 1981 book attempts to make the theory more accessible to experimentalists. Its primary purpose is to demonstrate to experimental molecular and cellular biologists the possible usefulness of mathematical models. Biologists with a basic command of calculus should be able to learn from the book what assumptions are implied by various types of equations, to understand in broad outline a number of major theoretical concepts, and to be aware of some of the difficulties connected with analytical and numerical solutions of mathematical problems. Thus they should be able to appreciate the significance of theoretical papers in their fields and to communicate usefully with theoreticians in the course of their work.
A survey of current topics in computational molecular biology. Computational molecular biology, or bioinformatics, draws on the disciplines of biology, mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering. It provides the computational support for functional genomics, which links the behavior of cells, organisms, and populations to the information encoded in the genomes, as well as for structural genomics. At the heart of all large-scale and high-throughput biotechnologies, it has a growing impact on health and medicine. This survey of computational molecular biology covers traditional topics such as protein structure modeling and sequence alignment, and more recent ones such as expression data analysis and comparative genomics. It combines algorithmic, statistical, database, and AI-based methods for studying biological problems. The book also contains an introductory chapter, as well as one on general statistical modeling and computational techniques in molecular biology. Each chapter presents a self-contained review of a specific subject. Not for sale in China, including Hong Kong.
Bioterrorism: Mathematical Modeling Applications in Homeland Security collects the detailed contributions of selected groups of experts from the fields of biostatistics, control theory, epidemiology, and mathematical biology who have engaged in the development of frameworks, models, and mathematical methods needed to address some of the pressing challenges posed by acts of terror. The ten chapters of this volume touch on a large range of issues in the subfields of biosurveillance, agroterrorism, bioterror response logistics, deliberate release of biological agents, impact assessment, and the spread of fanatic behaviors.
This text presents mathematical biology as a field with a unity of its own, rather than only the intrusion of one science into another. The book focuses on problems of contemporary interest, such as cancer, genetics, and the rapidly growing field of genomics.
An introduction to the mathematical concepts and techniques needed for the construction and analysis of models in molecular systems biology. Systems techniques are integral to current research in molecular cell biology, and system-level investigations are often accompanied by mathematical models. These models serve as working hypotheses: they help us to understand and predict the behavior of complex systems. This book offers an introduction to mathematical concepts and techniques needed for the construction and interpretation of models in molecular systems biology. It is accessible to upper-level undergraduate or graduate students in life science or engineering who have some familiarity with calculus, and will be a useful reference for researchers at all levels. The first four chapters cover the basics of mathematical modeling in molecular systems biology. The last four chapters address specific biological domains, treating modeling of metabolic networks, of signal transduction pathways, of gene regulatory networks, and of electrophysiology and neuronal action potentials. Chapters 3–8 end with optional sections that address more specialized modeling topics. Exercises, solvable with pen-and-paper calculations, appear throughout the text to encourage interaction with the mathematical techniques. More involved end-of-chapter problem sets require computational software. Appendixes provide a review of basic concepts of molecular biology, additional mathematical background material, and tutorials for two computational software packages (XPPAUT and MATLAB) that can be used for model simulation and analysis.
Over three hundred years ago, Galileo is reported to have said, "The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics." Often mathematics and science go hand in hand, with one helping develop and improve the other. Discoveries in science, for example, open up new advances in statistics, computer science, operations research, and pure and applied mathematics which in turn enabled new practical technologies and advanced entirely new frontiers of science. Despite the interdependency that exists between these two disciplines, cooperation and collaboration between mathematical scientists and scientists have only occurred by chance. To encourage new collaboration between the mathematical sciences and other fields and to sustain present collaboration, the National Research Council (NRC) formed a committee representing a broad cross-section of scientists from academia, federal government laboratories, and industry. The goal of the committee was to examine the mechanisms for strengthening interdisciplinary research between mathematical sciences and the sciences, with a strong focus on suggesting the most effective mechanisms of collaboration. Strengthening the Linkages Between the Sciences and the Mathematical Sciences provides the findings and recommendations of the committee as well as case studies of cross-discipline collaboration, the workshop agenda, and federal agencies that provide funding for such collaboration.
This work contains refereed papers presented at an interdisciplinary scientific meeting attended by a mix of leading biochemists and computer scientists held at DIMACS in March 1995. It describes the development of a variety of new methods which are being developed for attacking the important problem of molecular structure. It is intended for graduate students and researchers in numerical analysis, molecular biology, biochemistry, computer science, engineering, and operations.
This volume presents selected papers from a three-day workshop held during the DIMACS special years on Mathematical Support for Molecular Biology. Participants from the world over attended, giving the workshop an important international component. The study of discrete mathematics and optimization with medical applications is emerging as an important new research area. Significant applications have been found in medical research, for example in radiosurgical treatment planning, virtual endoscopy, and more. This volume presents a substantive cross-section of active research topics ranging from medical imaging to human anatomy modelling, from gamma knife treatment planning to radiation therapy, and from epileptic seizures to DNA screening. This book is an up-to-date resource reflecting current research directions.
