General Information
Math 336 was introduced as a separate course in the Fall 2001 semester. Previously, this content was available as one option in Math 338. The catalog description of the course is as follows.
01:640:336. DYNAMICAL MODELS IN BIOLOGY (3)
Models for biological processes based on ordinary and partial differential equations. Topics selected from models of population growth, predator-prey dynamics, biological oscillators, reaction-diffusion systems, pattern formation, neuronal and blood flow physiology, neural networks, biomechanics.
Prerequisites: CALC4 and 01:640:250.
The most recent semester covered the following topics: review of modeling with ordinary differential equations, steady-states, nullclines, linearization, linear ODE's, and stability, with illustrations from chemostats, drug infusion, epidemics, and chemical kinetics; singular perturbations and Michelis-Menten enzyme dynamics; bifurcations and switching behavior; activator-inhibitor systems; limit cycles and Poincare-Bendixon theory; relaxation oscillations; transport equation and travelling waves; chemotaxis: gradients; attraction and repulsion; diffussions and their relation to random walks.
The Course Announcement gives information on prerequisites, credit restrictions, and relation to the Biomathematics major.
Previous semesters:
- Fall 2013
- Fall 2008: Prof. Ocone
- Fall 2007: Section 01. Prof. Mischaikow
- Fall 2006: Prof. Eduardo Sontag
- Fall 2003: Dr. Patrick De Leenheer.
- A version taught as Math 338, Spring 2001.
Taught in the Fall Term.