The Larmor Society

Mathematical Biology

Mathematical Biology is one of 4 maths options, and is the most biological one of them all. The main point to put across is that MB is by no means an easy option. Perhaps confusingly, MB is portrayed as being at a level lower than Mathematics for Physical Scientists. However, this isn’t really true.

The main difference is, of course, that it takes a much more Biological approach. If you’re doing mainly biological options, then this course enough is the perfect Maths option. MB is essentially putting mathematical models to Biological situations, with a bit of stats thrown in for fun times! You’re always reminded the reason why you’re doing the Maths, for example how it is used in Biology, which may make it more bearable. If you’re interested in thinking about Maths from a different perspective, rather than being a keen pure mathematician, then MB is probably for you.

The statistics part of the course is very useful for some parts of the biological course in the 2nd and 3rd years, especially Ecology and Psychology. Although many will say Maths A is just as viable an option for biologists, bear in mind that you miss out on a substantial amount of statistics which is often necessary for experimental and project work in biology. Not all 2nd and 3rd year biological subjects will provide complementary statistics classes.

You don’t ever really need any books for MB, maybe bring some books from A-level to help you a bit, but it’s all in the lecture notes.

Link to course website: http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/degree/MB.html