Chance in Biology by Mark Denny

Chance in Biology by Mark Denny

Life is a chancy proposition: from the movement of molecules to the age at which we die, chance plays a key role in the natural world. Traditionally, biologists have viewed the inevitable "noise" of life as an unfortunate complication. The authors of this book, however, treat random processes as a benefit. In this introduction to chance in biology, Mark Denny and Steven Gaines help readers to apply the probability theory needed to make sense of chance events--using examples from ocean waves to spiderwebs, in fields ranging from molecular mechanics to evolution. Through the application of probability theory, Denny and Gaines make predictions about how plants and animals work in a stochastic universe. Is it possible to pack a variety of ion channels into a cell membrane and have each operate at near-peak flow? Why are our arteries rubbery? The concept of a random walk provides the necessary insight. Is there an absolute upper limit to human life span? Could the sound of a cocktail party burst your eardrums? The statistics of extremes allows us to make the appropriate calculations. How long must you wait to see the detail in a moonlit landscape? Can you hear the noise of individual molecules? The authors provide answers to these and many other questions. After an introduction to the basic statistical methods to be used in this book, the authors emphasize the application of probability theory to biology rather than the details of the theory itself. Readers with an introductory background in calculus will be able to follow the reasoning, and sets of problems, together with their solutions, are offered to reinforce concepts. The use of real-world examples, numerous illustrations, and chapter summaries--all presented with clarity and wit--make for a highly accessible text. By relating the theory of probability to the understanding of form and function in living things, the authors seek to pique the reader's curiosity about statistics and provide a new perspective on the role of chance in biology.

"An excellent introduction to the uses of probability theory for a reader who is more familiar with biology than with mathematics.. Denny and Gaines have done a valuable service to biologists who are interested in a quantitative approach to life sciences."--Paul Janmey, Nature Cell Biology "A lively, well-written text... A student who reads this book closely will come away with a much deeper appreciation for the universality of diffusion mechanics in science, the deep connections between the distributions central to inferential statistics, the importance of extreme events and how to deal with them analytically, and, most importantly, the power and limitations inherent in the underpinning of the inferential statistics that the student has learned elsewhere."--Mark R. Patterson, American Scientist "This is a fantastic book. Indeed, one would be hard-pressed to find a more readable and lucid introduction to probability theory."--Gary B. Gillis, Journal of Experimental Biology

Mark Denny is the current DeNault Professor of Marine Sciences at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California. His books include "Air and Water: The Biology and Physics of Life's Media" and "Biology and the Mechanics of the Wave-Swept Environment" (both Princeton). Steven Gaines is Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

SKU	CIN0691094942G
ISBN 13	9780691094946
ISBN 10	0691094942
Title	Chance in Biology
Author	Mark Denny
Condition	Good
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Princeton University Press
Year published	2002-09-23
Number of pages	312
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us