000 02387cam a2200289 i 4500
001 18741825
005 20250612123044.0
008 150813s2016 riu 001 0 eng
020 _a9781470437350
040 _aCSL
_cCSL
041 _2eng
_aeng
042 _apcc
084 _aB639m Q6 NBHM
_qCSL
100 1 _aFlapan, Erica,
_eauthor.
_9468793
245 1 0 _aKnots, molecules, and the universe :
_ban introduction to topology
264 1 _aProvidence :
_bAmerican Mathematical Society,
_c2016.
300 _axvii, 386 p. ;
_c26 cm.
500 _aIncludes index.
520 _aThis book is an elementary introduction to geometric topology and its applications to chemistry, molecular biology, and cosmology. It does not assume any mathematical or scientific background, sophistication, or even motivation to study mathematics. It is meant to be fun and engaging while drawing students in to learn about fundamental topological and geometric ideas. Though the book can be read and enjoyed by nonmathematicians, college students, or even eager high school students, it is intended to be used as an undergraduate textbook. The book is divided into three parts corresponding to the three areas referred to in the title. Part 1 develops techniques that enable two- and three-dimensional creatures to visualize possible shapes for their universe and to use topological and geometric properties to distinguish one such space from another. Part 2 is an introduction to knot theory with an emphasis on invariants. Part 3 presents applications of topology and geometry to molecular symmetries, DNA, and proteins. Each chapter ends with exercises that allow for better understanding of the material. The style of the book is informal and lively. Though all of the definitions and theorems are explicitly stated, they are given in an intuitive rather than a rigorous form, with several hundreds of figures illustrating the exposition. This allows students to develop intuition about topology and geometry without getting bogged down in technical details.
650 0 _aTopology
_9447898
650 0 _aAlgebraic topology
650 0 _aKnot theory
_9812713
650 0 _aGeometry
650 0 _aMolecular biology
_9414923
700 1 _aAverett, Maia.
_eco- author.
_9468794
942 _2CC
_n0
_cTEXL
_hB639m Q6 NBHM
999 _c1431647
_d1431647