Department of Mathematics
University of Turku

The Mathematical Theory of Biological Adaptation

(2,5 ov)

Modelling adaptive evolution is one of the greatest successes of mathematical biology. The course gives an introduction to the theory of adaptation, and covers some of the most recent research areas as well.

We start with basic models of natural selection providing a link between population growth, ecology, and evolution. The first main part of the course covers evolutionary optimization models, designed to investigate the outcome of evolution in fixed ecological environments. In the second part, we focus on evolution under the influence of other types present, or of other species that are evolving themselves. This part includes evolutionary game theory for modelling adaptive behaviour, and a recently developed approach to adaptive dynamics along with applications to competitive, predator-prey, and multi-habitat systems. Finally, we discuss the role of adaptive evolution in the origin of species.

The course is appropriate for students of mathematics as well as of biology. The biological background will be explained, and no previous studies in biology are necessary. We shall use basic mathematical techniques only. Some basic programming skills (either C, Pascal, etc., or Mathematica) will be useful to perform simple numerical investigations. The course is given in English.

Detailed programme
Exercises

Lectures: Wednesday 12-14, room XXIV
Exercises: Tuesday 16-17, room XX
The first lecture is given on 13 January 1999.

For further information, please feel free to contact me either by e-mail (eva.kisdi@utu.fi) or by phone (333 5056).

Eva Kisdi
Dept. of Mathematics