3515.12 - Mathematics and Statistics for Life Scientists

3515.12

Mathematics and Statistics for Life Scientists

7.5

Upper Secondary School with B-level in mathematics.

The purpose of the course is to equip the student with fundamental skills to work on mathematical and statistical models and their use in biology.

Difference equations. Logistic models and other dynamic models. Matrices. Inverse matrix, eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Models for cohorts, predator-prey, competition, and symbiosis. Forward-backward algorithm on matrices and eigenvectors. Equilibria, fluctuation and stability. Basic statistical concepts. Population, sampling, analysis og presentation of data. Measures of central tendency and dispersion. Fundamental probability concepts and distributions. Normal, binomial and poisson distributions. Estimation and confidence intervals. Statistical tests. Frequency analysis. Correlation and simple regression analysis. Assignments and exercises based on examples from biology.

Lectures and assignments

After completing the course, students should be able to: Work on fundamental population mathematics and difference equations. Describe the following concepts and perform simple calculations on matrices and eigenvalues, population and sampling, probability and probability distributions, estimation and statistical tests. Give examples of mathematical and statistical models in biology, and explain variables and parameters in the models. Perform calculations in the models, and interpret the results in a biological context.

Written exam in 4 hours. The exam accounts for 75% of the total grade. The student must submit six assignments of which four should be approved, and two assignments account for 25% of the total grade.

External

13-

Mathematical models in biology – an introduction E.S. Allman & J.A.Rhopes, 2004. Introductory Biological Statistics, R.E. Hampton & J.E. Havel, second ed., 2006, Waveland.

Petur Zachariassen