Algebraic and Combinatorial Computational Biology introduces students and researchers to a panorama of powerful and current methods for mathematical problem-solving in modern computational biology. Presented in a modular format, each topic introduces the biological foundations of the field, covers specialized mathematical theory, and concludes by highlighting connections with ongoing research, particularly open questions. The work addresses problems from gene regulation, neuroscience, phylogenetics, molecular networks, assembly and folding of biomolecular structures, and the use of clustering methods in biology. A number of these chapters are surveys of new topics that have not been previously compiled into one unified source. These topics were selected because they highlight the use of technique from algebra and combinatorics that are becoming mainstream in the life sciences.

Designed as supplemental material to the textbook An Invitation to Biomathematics, this laboratory manual expertly aids students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of solving biological issues with computer programs. This manual provides hands-on exploration of model development, model validation, and model refinement, enabling students to truly experience advancements made in biology by mathematical models. Each of the projects offered can be used as individual module in traditional biology or mathematics courses such as calculus, ordinary differential equations, elementary probability, statistics, and genetics.
This manual is a companion to the textbook, An Invitation of Biomathematics (sold separately ISBN: 0120887711; or as a set ISBN: 0123740290).
* Can be used as a computer lab component of a course in biomathematics or as homework projects for independent student work
* Biological topics include: Ecology, Toxicology, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Genetics, Biostatistics, Physiology, Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology
* Mathematical topics include: Discrete and continuous dynamical systems, difference equations, differential equations, probability distributions, statistics, data transformation, risk function, statistics, approximate entropy, periodic components, and pulse-detection algorithms
* Includes more than 120 exercises derived from ongoing research studies

Today, virtually any advance in the life sciences requires a sophisticated mathematical approach. The methods of mathematics and computer science have emerged as critical tools to modeling biological phenomena, understanding patterns, and making sense of large data sets, such as those generated by the human genome project. An Invitation to Biomathematics provides a comprehensive, yet easily digested entry into the diverse world of mathematical biology--the union of biology, mathematics, and computer science.
This textbook, expertly written by a team of experienced educators, is divided into two parts. The first section presents core principles as elucidated by classical problems such as population growth, predator-prey interactions, epidemic models, and population genetics, while the second applies these principles to modern biomedical research. In addition, the supplementary work Laboratory Manual of Biomathematics (available separately) is designed to enable hands-on exploration of model development, model validation, and model refinement.
* Provides a complete guide for development of quantification skills crucial for applying mathematical methods to biological problems.
* Includes well-known examples from across disciplines in the life sciences including modern biomedical research.
* Explains how to use data sets or dynamical processes to build mathematical models.
* Offers extensive illustrative materials.
* Written in clear and easy-to-follow language without assuming a background in math or biology.
* A laboratory manual is available for hands-on, computer-assisted projects based on material covered in the text.

"Mathematical Concepts and Methods in Modern Biology" offers a quantitative framework for analyzing, predicting, and modulating the behavior of complex biological systems. The book presents important mathematical concepts, methods and tools in the context of essential questions raised in modern biology.

Designed around the principles of project-based learning and problem-solving, the book considers biological topics such as neuronal networks, plant population growth, metabolic pathways, and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The mathematical modeling tools brought to bear on these topics include Boolean and ordinary differential equations, projection matrices, agent-based modeling and several algebraic approaches. Heavy computation in some of the examples is eased by the use of freely available open-source software.
Features self-contained chapters with real biological research examples using freely available computational toolsSpans several mathematical techniques at basic to advanced levelsOffers broad perspective on the uses of algebraic geometry/polynomial algebra in molecular systems biology"

Written by experts in both mathematics and biology, Algebraic and Discrete Mathematical Methods for Modern Biology offers a bridge between math and biology, providing a framework for simulating, analyzing, predicting, and modulating the behavior of complex biological systems. Each chapter begins with a question from modern biology, followed by the description of certain mathematical methods and theory appropriate in the search of answers. Every topic provides a fast-track pathway through the problem by presenting the biological foundation, covering the relevant mathematical theory, and highlighting connections between them. Many of the projects and exercises embedded in each chapter utilize specialized software, providing students with much-needed familiarity and experience with computing applications, critical components of the "modern biology" skill set. This book is appropriate for mathematics courses such as finite mathematics, discrete structures, linear algebra, abstract/modern algebra, graph theory, probability, bioinformatics, statistics, biostatistics, and modeling, as well as for biology courses such as genetics, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, and evolution.