Chapter 1
Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems
Data can become information if we know the processes involved.
Information can become knowledge if we see the system that is
operating. But knowledge only becomes wisdom when we can
see how any system must change, and can deal with that reality.
(Peter Allen, Coherence, Chaos and Evolution in the Social
Context, Futures, 1994, Vol. 26, p. 597)
1.1 Process and Art of Model Building
Biologists, from those who study the mechanisms of the nerve cell to those who
study ecosystems are in one way or another inescapably involved in dynamic
modeling. This book is dedicated to those people, with an understanding of at
least some of the problems they face.
The book is about the process and art of modeling. We define the process of
model building as an unending one—one with rewards typically proportional to the
effort extended. The art of modeling is implied throughout this book, first by virtue
of our continuing reference to style of the modeling approach and second by the
plethora of modeling examples from nearly every field in biology, and finally by
regular reference to the use of analogy.
Modeling style is important. Throughout our life we have learned to develop
models in our mind of the processes that we face every day. We do solve an
amazing class of dynamic problems, such as hitting baseballs and driving cars, by
acquiring through trial and error the skills that are necessary to put the various
components of a dynamic system together in our mind, draw the necessary conclusions and react accordingly. However, the more complex the system, the less are we
A save-disabled version of STELLA and the computer models of this book are available at
www.iseesystems.com/modelingdynamicbiologicalsystems.
B. Hannon and M. Ruth, Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems,
Modeling Dynamic Systems, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-05615-9_1,
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
3
Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems
Data can become information if we know the processes involved.
Information can become knowledge if we see the system that is
operating. But knowledge only becomes wisdom when we can
see how any system must change, and can deal with that reality.
(Peter Allen, Coherence, Chaos and Evolution in the Social
Context, Futures, 1994, Vol. 26, p. 597)
1.1 Process and Art of Model Building
Biologists, from those who study the mechanisms of the nerve cell to those who
study ecosystems are in one way or another inescapably involved in dynamic
modeling. This book is dedicated to those people, with an understanding of at
least some of the problems they face.
The book is about the process and art of modeling. We define the process of
model building as an unending one—one with rewards typically proportional to the
effort extended. The art of modeling is implied throughout this book, first by virtue
of our continuing reference to style of the modeling approach and second by the
plethora of modeling examples from nearly every field in biology, and finally by
regular reference to the use of analogy.
Modeling style is important. Throughout our life we have learned to develop
models in our mind of the processes that we face every day. We do solve an
amazing class of dynamic problems, such as hitting baseballs and driving cars, by
acquiring through trial and error the skills that are necessary to put the various
components of a dynamic system together in our mind, draw the necessary conclusions and react accordingly. However, the more complex the system, the less are we
A save-disabled version of STELLA and the computer models of this book are available at
www.iseesystems.com/modelingdynamicbiologicalsystems.
B. Hannon and M. Ruth, Modeling Dynamic Biological Systems,
Modeling Dynamic Systems, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-05615-9_1,
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
3