The biology of numbers

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The modern developments in mathematical biology, known as the "Golden Age of Theoretical Biology," occurred between 1920 and 1940, with Vito Volterra playing a crucial role. His interest in applying mathematics to non-physical sciences, particularly biology and economics, began around the turn of the century, highlighted in his inaugural address at the University of Rome in 1900/01. However, it wasn't until the mid-twenties, prompted by his son-in-law Umberto D'Ancona's inquiry about competition among animal species, that Volterra actively engaged in this field. From then until his death in 1940, he produced a substantial body of work. His aim was to adapt the models and concepts of classical mechanics to biology, creating a form of "rational mechanics" and "analytic mechanics" for biological associations. He sought to establish this new discipline on a solid experimental or empirical foundation, mirroring the approaches of mathematical physics. While few specific aspects of this reductionist program have endured, Volterra's contributions are now widely recognized as pivotal in inspiring further research in mathematical biology.