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<TITLE>Biological Concepts and Systems, Philosophy and History of Science Department</TITLE>
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<H1>
Biological Concepts and Systems
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<LI><A HREF="#Objectives">Objectives</A>
<LI><A HREF="#Syllabus">Syllabus</A>
<LI><A HREF="#Material">Course material</A>
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<LI><A HREF="../CourseBioSys/">Latest offering</A> <IMG SRC="../Images/flag_gr.gif">
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<A NAME="Objectives">
<H2>Objectives</H2>
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<LI>The objective of the course is on the one hand to familiarise students with the subject
and several basic concepts of biological systems, while on the other hand to present and
demonstrate the various modelling techniques and to study in vivo indicative experimental
models. The course surveys the concepts and problems of systems theory as applied to biological
problems with emphasis on modern and/or specialised subjects, such as self-organisation,
autonomy, autopoiesis and behavioural emergence. The course also briefly presents some
fundamental approaches and problems of behavioural and evolutionary biology that constitute
systematic modelling targets, such as sociobiology and the species problem.
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<LI>At a practical level, a number of examples are given on modelling, experimentation and
study with mathematical, computational and graphical methods, as well as a comparison and
evaluation of the various methodologies.
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<H3>Instructor</H3>
<PRE>
	<B>Elpida Tzafestas</B>
	Associate Professor
	Cognitive Science Laboratory
	Department of History and Philosophy of Science (M.I.Th.E.)
	National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
	University Campus, Ano Ilisia 15771 Athens
	GREECE
	Tel. (+30) 210-727 5522,
	     (+30) 210-727 5506
	Fax. (+30) 210-727 5530

	<IMG ALIGN=MIDDLE SRC="../Images/mail.gif"> <A HREF="mailto:etzafestas@phs.uoa.gr"><EM>etzafestas@phs.uoa.gr</EM></A>
	<IMG ALIGN=MIDDLE SRC="../Images/www2.gif"> <A HREF="http://users.softlab.ntua.gr/~brensham"><EM>http://users.softlab.ntua.gr/~brensham</EM></A>
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<A NAME="Syllabus">
<H2>Syllabus</H2>
<UL>
<LI><B>Introduction</B><BR>
History, Topics, Terminology
<LI><B>Evolution</B><BR>
Concepts, Darwin/Lamarck/Baldwin, Speciation, Symbiogenesis
<LI><B>Systems and modelling</B><BR>
Formalism, Conceptual design, Feedback
<LI><B>Sociobiology</B><BR>
History, Insects/Vertebrates/Primates, Social mechanisms
<LI><B>EvoDevo</B><BR>
Heredity, Epigenesis, Oyama, Concept of the gene
<LI><B>Origin of life</B><BR>
Emergence of DNA/RNA, Membrane and metabolism, Systemic theories
<LI><B>Modelling techniques</B><BR>
Discrete dynamical systems, Graphs, Agent-based modelling, Games
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<A NAME="Material">
<H2>Course material</H2>
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<LI>Lecture slides
<LI>Readings (papers and chapters)
<LI>Exercises with solutions
<LI>Excerpts from "Darwinism" (by C. Krimbas) and "Growth of biological thought" (by E. Mayr)
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<H2>Practical assignments (indicative)</H2>
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<LI>Ecological modelling
<LI>Evolutionary games
<LI>Epidemics
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<EM>Page last updated 09 March 2012</EM><BR>
<A HREF="mailto:etzafestas@phs.uoa.gr">
<EM>Send me mail (etzafestas@phs.uoa.gr)</EM></A><BR><BR>

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