Prospectus

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Mathematical Biology: the Virtual Cell

Course
2011-2012

The course covers the mathematical modelling, analysis and simulation of various biochemical processes that relate cell signaling, in particular to electrical activity in e.g. neurons and pancreatic beta cells. Modelling and analysis techniques are highlighted by using examples. It is illustrated how models of subsystems (and understanding of their behaviour individually) may be combined to get ‘whole cell’ models and gain insight in their behaviour. Mathematical concepts from dynamical system theory (e.g. equilibria, periodic solutions, bifurcations, time scale analysis, singular perturbation) are introduced in order to analyse and simulate the models using dedicated software. The results are compared to experimental results. At the end of the course the student is acquainted with the fundamental Hodgkin-Huxley, FitzHugh-Nagumo and Morris-Lecar models for electrical activity of cells and the relationships among them and should be capable of exploring further the current research on (biological) neural networks.

Extra informatie
Het college is onderdeel van de Bioinformatica track van de Technische Universiteit Delft en de Universiteit Leiden. Zie http://www.delftleiden.nl/BIO/ voor meer informatie en voor details over het rooster

Aantal college-uren
2

Tentaminering
Opdrachten en literatuuronderzoek met vervolgens presentatie(s) van resultaten

Verplichte literatuur
‘Computational Cell Biology’, C.P. Fall, E.S. Marland, J.M. Wagner and J.J. Tyson (eds.), Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics, Vol. 20, Springer-Verlag, 2002 (ISBN 0-387-95369-9)

Werkvorm
Hoorcollege en computerondersteunde werkgroepen

Course format
Lectures and computer-supported practice sessions

Literature
‘Computational Cell Biology’, C.P. Fall, E.S. Marland, J.M. Wagner and J.J. Tyson (eds.), Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics, Vol. 20, Springer-Verlag, 2002 (ISBN 0-387-95369-9)

Examination
Exercises and literature research with subsequent presentation(s) of results

Additional information
The course is part of the Bio-informatics master track of the Technical University Delft and University Leiden. See http://www.delftleiden.nl/BIO/ for more information and details on the schedule.

Links
Bioinfomatics home page
Course homepage