1999 Conference Attendee

John R. Jungck Chairperson, Education Committee, Society for Mathematical Biology and Editor, The BioQUEST Library BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium

Abstract: Mathematics has played exceptionally important roles throughout the history of biology. More biology students take Calculus than any other single constituency. Too frequently, textbook authors have unappreciated mathematics in biology curricula because they assume that biology students have an inadequate mathematical preparation. This practice: (1) deskills many biology students, (2) is inconsistent with our requirements, (3) misrepresents contemporary biological research, and, (4) underprepares students to read many articles or to contribute to many areas of biology. However, the recent calculus and biology reform movements have empowered students to actively investigate the behavior of many famous mathematical models in biology. While numerous recent publications are replete with numerous models, there is a need to identify a succinct list of achievements that represent the power of mathematics in biology. Hence, ten equations that changed biology and a brief description of their historical importance are presented here with BioQUEST software instantiations in order to draw attention to a variety of mathematical models that have been intrinsic to significant discoveries in biology and to illustrate that the tools are currently available for engaging students in active investigation of biological phenomena and the development of systematic strategies for biological problem solving.