Biomathematics uses mathematical models to unravel complex biological phenomena, offering a powerful lens to understand life from the molecular to the global scale.

While experimental biology excels at breaking systems down—from genomes to ecosystems—mathematical models bring the pieces back together, using equations to capture how the system’s components interact dynamically.

These models are essential tools in various fields of biology, including physiology, ecology, evolution, immunology, toxicology, and conservation biology. They help test biological theories, generate new hypotheses, and guide experiments. Beyond basic research, mathematical models provide practical insights into real-world problems. For example, models can predict how effective interventions are at reversing sea turtle population decline or how chemical carcinogenicity data can be scaled to inform human exposure limits. In situations where informed decisions are critical, quantitative models are indispensable.

Suggested Reading:

A good place to get an idea of what mathematical modeling is all about is an article by Jackson et al. (2000) which appeared in the journal BioScience, volume 50, issue number 8, pages 694-706.

Another good place to look is the February 6th 2004 edition of the journal Science (volume 303) which contains a series of articles on various areas of mathematical biology.