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INTERESTING BIOLOGY TOPICS?

What are the current topics in biology/biochemistry that heavily rely on mathematics and statistics? How can one student with a background in mathematics and statistics start working on these topics?

  • I am a junior majoring in mathematics/Statistics. Recently I have found out that there are lots of things going on in biology/biochemistry which require lots of mathematical expertise. I am curious to know how one should delve into the field if he/she has little advanced college level biology/chemistry experience

  • Answer:

    To provide a counterview to , If you want to utilise your mathematics in a more fundamental way as opposed to genetics and Macrobiology, you can delve more into Biochemistry. The starting point is to find a good textbook, I recommend Biochemistry, by Lubert Stryer (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biochemistry-Lubert-Stryer/dp/0716746840), as a starting point for gaining basic biochemical knowledge or Life: the Science of Biology (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Science-Biology-David-Sadava/dp/1464136394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391728540&sr=8-1&keywords=life+the+science+of+biology) for a more general look at Biology/Biochem. Your mathematics is going to be useful in physical biochemistry: thermodynamics and kinetics, and your statistics for evaluating systems and analysis of quantitative data. Generally speaking Life science doesn't tend to be to complicated and you should manage with reading the text books. You don't have to buy them, your library should carry them and if not - you can download the pdf if you search for it. I'm sure any Biology professor would be more than willing to explain a concept if you don't get it, and if not - you could always ask quora. Good luck in your first step towards doing a proper science! (as opposed to those lazy mathematicians >_>)

Aaron Gretton at Quora Visit the source

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I'm not an expert on what fields you could go into, but I have noticed a couple of biological fields that could be studied by a mathematician/statistician like yourself. Quantitative experience will be useful in general, but the statistical side of things could be invaluable. You could have a look at biostatistics, for example. I am looking into doing further study myself, and have a biological background as my title/bio says. However, I am really interested in genetics, and have noticed that for the particular course I am looking into, you can get in with little biological experience, if you have a mathematics or statistics degree. That said, you have to be able to show you have an interest in biology/genetics, but if you were interested, this could be a good path for you. If you are interested in this sort of thing, I would say you should have a look into statistics used in biology and find out what specific things you are interested in, or could happily study. I'd maybe buy a couple of books, and/or have a look at MOOCs (online free courses) such as those on https://www.coursera.org/course/biostats (links to a specific course you may like). If you are interested in further study, you could then specialise in biological statistics etc. You could also try and find a research-based job that relates to your experience and would give you more experience with biology/chemistry. So, as I said I am not an expert, but I think there are definitely ways you could move into biology/biochem if you have the interest.

Zoë Batchelor

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