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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Undergraduate Course: Topics in Mathematical Biology (MATH10083)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Mathematics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryIntegrative course in Mathematical Biology for joint Honours students in Mathematics and Biology, with a focus on current opinions and topics in evolutionary and systems biology, and a discussion of relevant mathematical modelling techniques and the challenges faced by mathematical biologists in their application.

The course will consist of a number of individual modules which include a general introduction to research skills in mathematical biology and a "reading club" in which published research in mathematical biology is digested and critiqued. Additional modules may be delivered by lecturers from the School of Mathematics and the School of Biological Sciences, as well as by academic visitors to either School.

Sample topics include an overview of current trends in both evolutionary and systems biology, as well as a more in-depth discussion of specific sub-areas such as quantitative genetics, epidemiology, and stochastic gene expression, and relevant mathematical techniques such as stochastic modelling, perturbation analysis, and statistical inference.

Throughout, an emphasis is placed on student participation through discussion and presentation, and on twoway interaction with lecturing staff. Correspondingly, the course is assessed by coursework only. Lectures are
intertwined with workshop sessions in which the lectured material is discussed in a collaborative studio
environment. The "reading club" will be assessed by mandatory attendance and student presentations.
Additionally, students will attend four talks in the Mathematical Biology seminar series, and subsequently submit a written synopsis as part of their coursework.

The course is available only to students on the degree programme *Mathematics and Biology*.
Course description A sample syllabus for this course is given as follows.

Week 1 : Research skills in mathematical biology
Week 2 : Mathematical Biology Seminar
Week 3 : Trends in systems biology
Week 4 : Mathematical Biology Seminar
Week 5 : Trends in evolutionary biology
Week 6 : Reading club
Week 7 : Reading club
Week 8 : Mathematical Biology Seminar
Week 9 : Reading club
Week 10 : Reading club
Week 11 : Mathematical Biology Seminar

Specific topics will vary by session, and will depend on the lecturing staff rota.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Honours Differential Equations (MATH10066) AND Stochastic Modelling (MATH10007) AND Numerical Ordinary Differential Equations and Applications (MATH10060)
Students MUST have passed: ( Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics 3 (BILG09004) AND Molecular Genetics 3 (BILG09002)) OR ( Molecular Genetics 3 (BILG09002) AND Molecular Cell Biology 3 (BILG09001))
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 98 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 100%
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Identify current opinions, topics, and challenges in mathematical biology, with a focus on evolutionary and systems biology.
  2. Understand and critically assess a selection of published research in mathematical biology.
  3. Present complex mathematical concepts to non-specialists in an accessible fashion.
  4. Discuss the state of the art in biological experimentation, data assimilation and processing, and the mathematical modelling of biological phenomena.
  5. Evaluate the relevance of both established and novel mathematical modelling techniques to emerging biological applications.
Reading List
Relevant original research articles and recent reviews, to be chosen as appropriate by the lecturing staff delivering the course in a given session.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsTMB
Contacts
Course organiserDr Tibor Antal
Tel: (0131 6)51 7672
Email: Tibor.Antal@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Greta Mazelyte
Tel:
Email: greta.mazelyte@ed.ac.uk
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