New book champions “hard” science in the messy world of plant biology

A new book edited by a leading John Innes Centre scientist highlights the importance of physical, mathematical and computational approaches to plant biology.

Mathematical Modelling in Plant Biology is edited by Professor Richard Morris whose research at the John Innes Centre investigates the physics of information processing in plants.

With contributions by the world’s leading researchers in the field, the book’s goal is to enthuse physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists about the exciting possibilities of research in plant science.

The book provides a mixture of introductory chapters with further sections on latest results. It’s aimed at postgraduate students and researchers working in the field of plant systems biology and synthetic biology; and is also a useful reference for students wanting to study quantitative plant biology.

“The science of living systems can appear messy and therein lies the challenge,” says Professor Morris,” in the preface to the new book. “As I hope will become apparent from this book, plant biology is a “hard” science. It extensively uses quantitative data, physical theories and mathematical and computational modelling and is becoming increasingly predictive. Furthermore, it is great fun.”

Mathematical Modelling in Plant Biology is published by Springer Nature.

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