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BIOL 382Computational Modelling of Cellular Systems

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Biology
Cross-listed
AMATH 382

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 1 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to dynamic mathematical modelling of cellular processes. The emphasis is on using computational tools to investigate differential equation-based models. A variety of cellular phenomena are discussed, including ion pumps, membrane potentials, intercellular communication, genetic networks, regulation of metabolic pathways, and signal transduction.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete 1 of the following
      • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
        • MATH118 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
        • MATH119 - Calculus 2 for Engineering (0.50)
        • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
        • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
        • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)
      • Must have completed:
    • Students must be in level 3A or higher
    • Enrolled in an Honours program

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

85% liked it69% easy81% useful

From 13 ratings and 6 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This is a fantastic course. I cannot stress this enough. Brian is the GOAT.
    The assignments are very challenging. If you go to office hours he will help you get to the right answer.
    The midterms are very challenging.
    The only way you will do well in this course is with coding experience.
    Brian is a brilliant educator, provides recorded lectures, and is very flexible and helpful during office hours. I suck at math but knew python and did well in this class.

    May 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • 20% hw (best 5 of 6), 40% mt (2) and a 40% project (20% presentation & 20% paper). there's a lot more math than bio in the 2 mts - good news if ur from a math/phys background.
    hw is the most time consuming/challenging component, mostly computational.
    NOT A BIRD COURSE, but a lotta fun. experience might vary if 1) ur unfamiliar with math/coding (Brian is willing to help go to his office hours!); 2) class doesn't start at 0830...
    don't recommend if you don't knwo how to code

    Apr 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Don't let the high ratings on UWFlow trick you, this is not a bird course. Assignments often have very little (if any) correlation with lecture content and TAs try their best but generally are just as confused as students (I've found the TAs will often just pull out Brian's answer sheet and give you the answers because they also don't know what's going on, so start going to office hours for the free marks if you're struggling). Biology students be aware - you will have to spend significant time deriving different proofs + modelling dynamic systems in Python/MATLAB. If this doesn't sound like something you'd be interested in, run. Overall, the course just seems like kind of a mess. Professor…

    Feb 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • As a bio student, this is the best AMATH course you can take. It will open your eyes to a new field in applied math and biology, and it is amazing. However, despite the prerequisite does not require any CS courses, I would recommend you to know some basic scripting and CS logics before you come to this class - it will make your assignments so much easier

    Mar 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course is amazing. I learned so much and all of it was directly applicable to the research I plan on doing.
    There aren't many prereqs for this course which is fine because the course moves at a very manageable pace.
    This course is definitely one you should take if you are interested in both Mathematics and Biology, or even if you are just interested in building mathematical models.

    Dec 2014 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

12 posts and comments in 11 threads mention BIOL 382, December 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2022

Fall 2021

Spring 2020

Winter 2020

PSYCH courses useful for machine learning? 7 points, 20 comments

“I'll be taking the CS courses but need some PSYCH courses for the requirements. I don't want to take random courses though. …”

u/shostako_bitch: “Out of the core psych courses, 207 (cognitive psychology) is your best bet, for other psych courses maybe 256 (intro to cognitive science), 446 (cognitive modelling)”

u/shostako_bitch: “… Biol 377: systems neuroscience: from neurons to behaviour, or Biol 382: computational modelling of cellular systems. …”

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Fall 2019

HELP BIOL 382!!! 7 points, 0 comments

u/apwaterloostu: “Course selection has me stREssEd and I need an easy third year science course... I'm thinking BIOL382. Has anyone taken BIOL382 and what is the difficulty and mark breakdown??? pls help (also if you know of any easy third year science courses pls lmk!)”

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Spring 2019

Girls in Physics programs 13 points, 33 comments

“Hello, I'm an incoming physics undergrad, and I'm a girl. I was wondering how many girls are in physics programs and how is the environment, is it female-friendly, is it overly male and like tough to …”

[deleted]: “I'd guess 35% are girls. Much lower for math phys, slightly higher for other phys. It's physics, not weightlifting. I don't see how it can be more or less friendly to another gender. …”

[deleted]: “… I recommend AMATH/BIO 382 for that. It only runs once every 2 years in the winter and is very good for learning to model systems with DEs. Calc 2 is a prereq but isn't very needed. You can get an override from the prof for it. …”

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Spring 2018

Spring 2017

BIOL 382 vs 487 2 points, 2 comments

u/asfdasndj34254: “… It seems that BIOL 382(Computational Modelling of Cellular Systems) is strongly math focused and the reviews make it sounds useful and interesting. I'm in 4th year and really need to get my calculus game up again. …”

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Fall 2015

Anyone take BIOL 266? I'm in Science but I also like CS is this a good fit? 4 points, 7 comments

“Is there a lot if any coding in computational biology? I like coding in the side but would love to mix the two together. Anyone take this course?”

u/Comael321: “… AMath/Biol 382 (Computational Modelling of Cellular Systems) - prereqs are 2nd semester calc (118, 119, 128, 138, 148) and 3rd year in an honors program. Biol 457 (Analysis of Communities) - prereqs are 3rd year ecology (350) and 2nd year stats (202, 204). …”

u/adbfsbdkglsn: “Do you mind telling me about AMATH/BIOL 382 if you took it?”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar