An Experimental Approach to Mathematical Modeling in Biology

Autor/in	Ledder, Glenn
Titel	An Experimental Approach to Mathematical Modeling in Biology
Quelle	In: PRIMUS, 18 (2008) 1, S.119-138 (20 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1051-1970
Schlagwörter	Scientific Research; Mathematical Models; Entomology; Biology; Population Education; Simulation; Teaching Methods; Experiments; Higher Education + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Mathematical model; Mathematisches Modell; Entomologie; Biologie; Simulation program; Simulationsprogramm; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Erprobung; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen
Abstract	The simplest age-structured population models update a population vector via multiplication by a matrix. These linear models offer an opportunity to introduce mathematical modeling to students of limited mathematical sophistication and background. We begin with a detailed discussion of mathematical modeling, particularly in a biological context. We then describe Bugbox-population, a virtual insect laboratory that allows students to make observations and collect quantitative data easily, thereby learning mathematical modeling in the context of its use in scientific research. Creating a mathematical model for boxbugs involves the same intellectual work as creating a mathematical model for real insects, but without the difficulties involved in collecting real biological data. The analysis of the Bugbox-population data leads to the development of the eigenvalue problem for population projection matrices. (Contains 5 figures and 6 footnotes.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10