The use of mathematical tools for the analysis of issues and topics in biology is called biomathematics . It is a scientific discipline that also uses mathematical concepts to study issues in environmental sciences and medicine.
Before moving forward, it is important to keep in mind that, due to the complexity of living beings , it is not possible to treat all the dimensions of a biological process with a mathematical approach. That is why reductions need to be made to simplify reality and thus make the approach viable.
Biomathematics, also known as mathematical biology , aims at the application of mathematical techniques to investigate biological problems . The theoretical biologist Nicolas Rashevsky is considered the father of biomathematics, since in 1938 he presented the first scientific text on this subject .
Currently, biomathematics is based on modeling and the use of differential equations . To synthesize biological reality, modeling is used through the "translation" of the elements under study into mathematical language . This modeling is usually carried out with differential equations , resulting in a system that can contain dozens of equations. Computers ( computers ), at this point, are essential for solving the systems and thus finding the functions that allow the description of the phenomena.
Biomathematics, in short, is a multidisciplinary area where mathematicians, biologists, physiologists, chemists and physicists meet. This meeting requires overcoming linguistic and philosophical barriers to achieve mutual understanding and generate knowledge .
It is a very important resource for different reasons. For example, mathematical tools continue to develop at a favorable and promising pace and can be of great help to scientists trying to understand certain biological mechanisms that are too complex. Among others, for these cases far from linear issues, the knowledge collected by chaos theory can be used.
Chaos theory is known as the branch of certain sciences such as physics, biology and mathematics, among others, which focuses on the study of some classes of complex and non-linear dynamic systems with a great tendency to vary in their conditions. initials. A small variation in this instance is enough for future behavior to present considerable differences, making it impossible to predict short-term results.
Another reason why biomathematics is so important and is enjoying a good moment in terms of its acceptance by the scientific community is that computer processors are increasingly powerful, to limits that in the mid-20th century were impossible to imagine. This not only translates into a higher degree of raw processing, but there are various types of processors specialized in different areas .
Given the characteristics of biology and the problems it aims to study and solve, simulations that can be carried out on a current computer are of special relevance. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, is a booming tool that can save a lot of research time if used appropriately to take advantage of the experience collected by the computer in order to avoid repeating errors and to anticipate potential problems, in addition. to reach conclusions with an astonishing level of precision.
Another point in favor of biomathematics is that it avoids terrible experimentation on animals, something that should never have existed. The need to have human subjects is also eliminated, thanks to the use of the aforementioned computer simulations, among other resources that allow the results to be estimated through calculations.