Computer modeling in biology

Abstract

The textbook was compiled in accordance with the curriculum of the “Computer modeling in biology” discipline for the preparation of Masters in Biology at the Educational and Scientific Center “Institute of Biology and Medicine” of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.The lecture material on the study of both basic and original models of biological processes described by point and distributed systems is systematized.The concepts of “model” and “modeling” are revealed, the classification of models and the general principles of their creation, the basis of the mathematical apparatus (theory of differential equations) necessary for the construction and analysis of dynamic models in biology are given.The possibilities of modeling in biology are illustrated by selected examples, in particular models of evolution and development, kinetics of enzymatic processes, population and self-organization.Stochastic models of biological processes are described.The usefulness of methods of empirical mathematical analysis of complex graphical dependencies in biological research is shown.Tasks of various types of complexity from various fields of biology are presented for independent work of students to successfully master the textbook’s educational material.Some algorithms of the “Mathematica” software, which will be needed for conducting a computer experiment on the study of models of living systems, are considered in detail. For students of biological and medical specialties of higher education institutions who study disciplines related to the modeling of biological processes of various nature.