What math should I know for a major in biology?

Answer 1

Statistics and trig

Answer 2

Let me begin by saying I hate math.

I've never been an expert at it, and on some days I want to smash my calculator.

But I've had to deal with math on many levels, and I learn it in different ways to accomidate the needs of the moment.

I can tell you without hesitation that math is important in my daily life. But I work with math in a "wet-bench" way.

I can also say that I am less valuable for not being able to perform statistical (dry-lab) math .

Since you didn't specify one way or another, I'm going to assume you want to work with numbers in an statistical manner (dry-lab).

I'm also assuming your not talking about the "easy" math (simple statistics).

You probably mean the ability to create data sets (with thousands [and even millions] of values and variables), and analyze and present biological themes with interesting findings as conventional and useful means.

I don't do this. But I can share what I know.....

I often see my boss sweating when his peers interpret his statistical data (personally, I think my boss is a "truth-contortionist" when accompanied by his statistics).

BUT THIS SKILL IS INVALUABLE (and hopefully you'll work for a more ethical boss)! If you have a passion for numbers, you are in high demand!!

Expect to manipulate values and normalize data enough so they can squeeze into your bosses hypothesis.

Even across several popular (and unpopular) bio-assay platforms, the accuracy and the ability to understand the numbers is still lacking. But the assays are very popular because of their ability to generate huge data sets.

You, as a statistician, make all suspicious results disappear, because the next grant can not allow for suspicious results. You are a magician, and a mathematician.

Also, expect to re-interpret work done by other published scientists (reputations not withstanding). You will be taking their scientific data to employ the "hottest" statistical approaches, so your bosses data will make a "fresh" statement on stale work.

Knowing past and current data "massage-techniques" becomes invaluable as scientific budgets get tighter (and if your in the USA, budgets are likely to get smaller).

You ask a great question! I hope I offered some things to consider.

Best wishes to you.

Answer 3

I do not know why no one tells you this. If you want a BS, at first, in biology ( a good place to start ) you will have to take intro physics. This is required for science baccalaureates. That will require you to have at least short calculus/intro calculus. You can go for the " inferior " BA, I guess.

PS You need to want to be math ready for today's biology.

Answer 4

Calculus -- the new bioinformatics studies in biology require calculus -- even the statistics is done with calculus. Since calculus is the math of measuring rate of change and amount of changes, I think you could see how it would be required. Also, in practice, biologists use a "p" value for everything.

Answer 5

for my biology degree I need statistics, biometrics, calculus, but check with the courses required at the college/university you want to go to, check the website, and also check the prerequisites, you may need math 11 or 12 too probably

Answer 6

Statistics and...well I think that everyone should know a little calculus, but that won't help with the bio major.

Answer 7

Definitely statistics, calculus helps with some formulae, but at least make sure you can do basic stuff and handle simple equations.

Answer 8

Statistics. A lot of your analysis that you do in experiments and research will rely on statistics in order to either support or turn down your hypothesis.

Answer 9

At least Trigonometry.

Answer 10

You'll need at least some calc for stats, though.