Why do Math I hate?
Scores with bated breath do I wait …
Polynomial monomial factorial,
Why does it sound to me so unreal?
(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2,
with a blank look on the white board do I stare …
Teachers came teachers went school came to an end,
till now haven’t deciphered why to infinity limits do tend!!!
Then happened biosciences,
With applied Mathematics, biostatistics I made new alliances,
Math was no more unreal
touching cells, life, taking mankind to a top gear !!!
I don’t have strong mathematical intuition – in fact I’ve always found formal Math courses quite difficult. Limits, Derivatives, Integration always seemed like a sci-fi movie, where you see all the action, never understanding why they are doing it. It was one of the reasons I opted for the Bioscience stream. But I guess the Math ghost was not going to leave me alone. I found Math also in my Biosciences course, not on the face but subtly.
My Biosciences Modules were soul-changing. They changed my whole perspective towards Mathematics. I started discovering my own way of learning Math that I need: plotting graphs to help understand equations, running small “trial and error” tests with some sample numbers when developing algorithms. Of course I have a great resource – the Web, where I can browse tutorials for maths courses from universities anywhere in the world, read the manuals of statistical packages and so on.
My Biostatistics made me realize how important Statistics is for a researcher to design his project, sample size, analyze and interpret the data obtained using different tests like ANOVA, t-test, p value…etc. Even understanding cellular events like cell cycle, Na-K channels, ATP metabolism in Biochemical pathways, ligand –receptor interactions, macromolecular interactions…etc. require good physical and mathematical framework in the mind so that anything new/abnormal will get noticed quickly.
Without strong Math base, JDW could not have noticed the thermodynamically stable DNA helix structure, Ramachandran would not be able to make a plot, and Breslauer et al.(1986) would not be able to formulate Tm calculation by nearest neighbor method. Physical chemistry is the subject to make a complete portrait of Biology in mind, to understand each and every aspect of it.
My Biophysics Professor says that Biology is nothing but physical chemistry and I think physical chemistry is explained best in terms of mathematical derivations like PV=nRT, ΔH= ΔG+TΔS, etc. which are so universal and important not only in mechanics but also in Biology. He dramatically changed my view towards Math.
Studying the system like cell, which is under control of many factors, requires mathematics for expressing its thermodynamic behavior. Cell is the most thermodynamically efficient system man would come across which not only functions isothermally but also perpetuates by mitosis and produces variability by meiosis to maintain diversity of life. You understand Math, you understand Life!!!
Math simplifies the complex correlation between different factors such as in enzyme kinetics, fermentation technology, etc. various formulae help us to study complex systems. Maths is required in process management of many upstream and downstream regulation processes at industrial level for production of various vital enzymes, antibiotics, vaccines, and biological products.
Right from agriculture, forestry, botany, zoology, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacy to medicine each and every branch of biology requires mathematics for expressing theoretical concepts and their applications in real life. Mathematics helps to clarify the underlying mechanisms; this is because the process of modelling makes us concentrate on separating the essential from the inessential. A model can be used to investigate situations that are not easily agreeable to experiment like global warming etc. Mathematics is valuable in testing out ideas. Mathematics is a concise but powerful language that allows the `hidden' similarities between different systems to be discovered.
But, How much math do you really need in Biology?
Even though Math is helpful in every aspect, complicated, multistage derivations and use of horrible roman letters in the formulae removes it charm. Calculus is a real headache sometimes …it comes in the theory without any prior resolution like in bioinformatics writing algorithms for different processes like DNA- protein interaction, protein-protein interaction, etc.
Furthermore, mathematical modelling of cellular processes is quite challenging. Cell, the unit of life, is infinitely complex. There are millions of things going around in a single cell, maintinaining control and order among its molecules as exemplified, for instance, in the DNA-RNA-protein machinery, absorbing nutrients and generating biomass to perform specific functions, such as secreting chemicals or engulfing pathogens, adapting to its microenvironment by moving toward sources of nutrients or by remaining quiescent when resources are scarce, and replicating when conditions are favourable. Besides, the human body has 1013 cells of different types and functions continuously talking to each other, it is quite clear that mathematical models of biological processes are extremely difficult or rather impossible. Even the most successful models can be expected to deal only with limited situations, ignoring all but the most essential variables. What you need is some automated way to model this, probably a simulator, probably a tool. This could remove unnecessary use of Math making the course even more fun. The usage of Math should not make students run away from the course but to make them believe in the course, believe in course’s realism.
There is no obligation to love math any more than grammar, composition, curfew or washing up after dinner. It depends on the individual choice since everyone has different approach towards understanding of biology through math or any other way. Depending on that each one develops different levels of liking or fear for it. Still nothing is stable...we know.. so it’s better keep fingers crossed and have a faith in you that once you overcome the fear of math…it will help you instead of giving headache.
My Biosciences Modules were soul-changing. They changed my whole perspective towards Mathematics. I started discovering my own way of learning Math that I need: plotting graphs to help understand equations, running small “trial and error” tests with some sample numbers when developing algorithms. Of course I have a great resource – the Web, where I can browse tutorials for maths courses from universities anywhere in the world, read the manuals of statistical packages and so on.
My Biostatistics made me realize how important Statistics is for a researcher to design his project, sample size, analyze and interpret the data obtained using different tests like ANOVA, t-test, p value…etc. Even understanding cellular events like cell cycle, Na-K channels, ATP metabolism in Biochemical pathways, ligand –receptor interactions, macromolecular interactions…etc. require good physical and mathematical framework in the mind so that anything new/abnormal will get noticed quickly.
Without strong Math base, JDW could not have noticed the thermodynamically stable DNA helix structure, Ramachandran would not be able to make a plot, and Breslauer et al.(1986) would not be able to formulate Tm calculation by nearest neighbor method. Physical chemistry is the subject to make a complete portrait of Biology in mind, to understand each and every aspect of it.
My Biophysics Professor says that Biology is nothing but physical chemistry and I think physical chemistry is explained best in terms of mathematical derivations like PV=nRT, ΔH= ΔG+TΔS, etc. which are so universal and important not only in mechanics but also in Biology. He dramatically changed my view towards Math.
Studying the system like cell, which is under control of many factors, requires mathematics for expressing its thermodynamic behavior. Cell is the most thermodynamically efficient system man would come across which not only functions isothermally but also perpetuates by mitosis and produces variability by meiosis to maintain diversity of life. You understand Math, you understand Life!!!
Math simplifies the complex correlation between different factors such as in enzyme kinetics, fermentation technology, etc. various formulae help us to study complex systems. Maths is required in process management of many upstream and downstream regulation processes at industrial level for production of various vital enzymes, antibiotics, vaccines, and biological products.
Right from agriculture, forestry, botany, zoology, microbiology, biochemistry, pharmacy to medicine each and every branch of biology requires mathematics for expressing theoretical concepts and their applications in real life. Mathematics helps to clarify the underlying mechanisms; this is because the process of modelling makes us concentrate on separating the essential from the inessential. A model can be used to investigate situations that are not easily agreeable to experiment like global warming etc. Mathematics is valuable in testing out ideas. Mathematics is a concise but powerful language that allows the `hidden' similarities between different systems to be discovered.
But, How much math do you really need in Biology?
Even though Math is helpful in every aspect, complicated, multistage derivations and use of horrible roman letters in the formulae removes it charm. Calculus is a real headache sometimes …it comes in the theory without any prior resolution like in bioinformatics writing algorithms for different processes like DNA- protein interaction, protein-protein interaction, etc.
Furthermore, mathematical modelling of cellular processes is quite challenging. Cell, the unit of life, is infinitely complex. There are millions of things going around in a single cell, maintinaining control and order among its molecules as exemplified, for instance, in the DNA-RNA-protein machinery, absorbing nutrients and generating biomass to perform specific functions, such as secreting chemicals or engulfing pathogens, adapting to its microenvironment by moving toward sources of nutrients or by remaining quiescent when resources are scarce, and replicating when conditions are favourable. Besides, the human body has 1013 cells of different types and functions continuously talking to each other, it is quite clear that mathematical models of biological processes are extremely difficult or rather impossible. Even the most successful models can be expected to deal only with limited situations, ignoring all but the most essential variables. What you need is some automated way to model this, probably a simulator, probably a tool. This could remove unnecessary use of Math making the course even more fun. The usage of Math should not make students run away from the course but to make them believe in the course, believe in course’s realism.
There is no obligation to love math any more than grammar, composition, curfew or washing up after dinner. It depends on the individual choice since everyone has different approach towards understanding of biology through math or any other way. Depending on that each one develops different levels of liking or fear for it. Still nothing is stable...we know.. so it’s better keep fingers crossed and have a faith in you that once you overcome the fear of math…it will help you instead of giving headache.
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