Biology by Numbers : An Encouragement to Quantitative Thinking

The number-shy biology student is a common species. This introductory text shows how to apply simple mathematical principles to a range of biological examples to reveal vital insights and understanding. Packed with questions and calculations and covering the whole range of biology, this is for all maths-shy biologists, from first-year undergraduates to graduates.

Biologists are notoriously reticent about using mathematics. This textbook is both an introduction to quantitative biology and a guide for the number-shy. Richard Burton fosters a sense of the fundamental importance and usefulness of mathematical principles in biology, with a fascinating range of examples. The book is geared towards the non-mathematician, and covers the basics as well as various more advanced topics from many diverse biological disciplines. Questions and calculations encourage active participation without holding up the reader. A key feature is the structure of the book. Rather than building it around biological disciplines, Dr Burton emphasises the common ways of reasoning used in areas as diverse as insect and population growth, seed mortality and sensory response (to mention a few that use logarithms). Written primarily for beginning undergraduates, this enlightening text will also be an essential aid for students throughout their undergraduate and graduate years.