Modeling in Biology

Modeling in biology is the practice of using mathematical, computational, or conceptual frameworks to create simplified representations of complex biological systems. This approach allows scientists to simulate processes, test hypotheses, and make predictions about how systems behave under different conditions, particularly for phenomena that are too large, slow, or complex to study through direct experimentation. Spanning all scales of life, these models are used for everything from predicting the spread of infectious diseases and analyzing population dynamics to deciphering gene regulatory networks and simulating protein folding. By abstracting the essential features of a system, biological modeling serves as a powerful tool that complements traditional research to deepen our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of life.