NONLINEAR SCIENCE - THE IMPACT OF BIOLOGY

Nonlinear science has primarily developed from applications of mathema tics to physics. The biological sciences are emerging as the dominant growth points of science and technology, and biological systems are ch aracterised by being information dense, spatially extended, organised in interacting hierarchies, and rich in diversity. These characteristi cs, linked with an increase in available computing power and accessibl e memory, may lead to a nonlinear science of complicated interacting s ystems that will link different types of mathematical object within a framework of many-sorted algebras. Examples, drawn from current work o n intracellular, cellular, tissue, organ and integrative physiology of an individual, are outlined within the theory of synchronous concurre nt algorithms. Possible directions in population dynamics and applicat ions to ecosystem management are outlined. (C) 1997 The Franklin Insti tute. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.