Life is a chancy proposition: from the movement of molecules to
the age at which we die, chance plays a key role in the natural
world. Traditionally, biologists have viewed the inevitable "noise"
of life as an unfortunate complication. The authors of this book,
however, treat random processes as a benefit. In this introduction
to chance in biology, Mark Denny and Steven Gaines help readers to
apply the probability theory needed to make sense of chance
events--using examples from ocean waves to spiderwebs, in fields
ranging from molecular mechanics to evolution.
Through the application of probability theory, Denny and Gaines
make predictions about how plants and animals work in a stochastic
universe. Is it possible to pack a variety of ion channels into a
cell membrane and have each operate at near-peak flow? Why are our
arteries rubbery? The concept of a random walk provides the
necessary insight. Is there an absolute upper limit to human life
span? Could the sound of a cocktail party burst your eardrums? The
statistics of extremes allows us to make the appropriate
calculations. How long must you wait to see the detail in a moonlit
landscape? Can you hear the noise of individual molecules? The
authors provide answers to these and many other questions.
After an introduction to the basic statistical methods to be
used in this book, the authors emphasize the application of
probability theory to biology rather than the details of the theory
itself. Readers with an introductory background in calculus will be
able to follow the reasoning, and sets of problems, together with
their solutions, are offered to reinforce concepts. The use of
real-world examples, numerous illustrations, and chapter
summaries--all presented with clarity and wit--make for a highly
accessible text. By relating the theory of probability to the
understanding of form and function in living things, the authors
seek to pique the reader's curiosity about statistics and provide a
new perspective on the role of chance in biology.
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