RUTGERS MATH DEPARTMENT COURSE MATERIALS:
Math 336, Dynamical Models in Biology
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.
Current Semester
Taught in the Fall Term. Will return in Fall 2008.
Links to previous semesters:
- 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.
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Information posted prior to the beginning of the semester is frequently tentative, or based on previous semesters. Textbooks should not be purchased until confirmed with the instructor. For generally reliable textbook information—with the exception of sections with an alphabetic code like H1 or T1, and topics courses (197,395,495)—see the textbook list.