Biology by Numbers: An Encouragement to Quantitative Thinking

Description

Biologists are notoriously reticent about using mathematics. This textbook is both an introduction to quantitative biology and a guide for the number-shy. Richard Burton fosters a sense of the fundamental importance and usefulness of mathematical principles in biology, with a fascinating range of examples. The book is geared towards the non-mathematician, and covers the basics as well as various more advanced topics from many diverse biological disciplines. Questions and calculations encourage active participation without holding up the reader. A key feature is the structure of the book. Rather than building it around biological disciplines, Dr Burton emphasises the common ways of reasoning used in areas as diverse as insect and population growth, seed mortality and sensory response (to mention a few that use logarithms). Written primarily for beginning undergraduates, this enlightening text will also be an essential aid for students throughout their undergraduate and graduate years.

'As a gentle introduction to mathematics for the numerically phobic biology undergraduate, Richard Burton's Biology by Numbers could hardly be bettered. Well-chosen examples take the agony out of algorithms and the confusion out of calculus.' New Scientist 'If you have ever fancied doing some biologically relevant maths, but haven't known how, this could be a good place to start.' John A. Lee, Biologist 'The book contains lots of examples of numerical common sense that bring biology to life. Thre is a wealth of information to be learned too.' Hugh Fletcher, Journal of Biological Education '... I recommended this book to fill a gap in undergraduate teaching about number crunching - I'll be using it.' Australian Journal of Ecology