Speaker
Benedikt Wirth
(University of Münster)
Description
Shape is a central principle in biology, linking form to function across scales. It determines ecological fit at organism level, assists physiological function at the organ level, and drives macroscopic form through growth and patterning at the (sub-)cellular level. Quantifying and comparing shape or morphology may therefore provide a powerful tool to understand phylo- and ontogenesis as well as biological organization in general. I will give an introduction into the mathematics of shape spaces and the theoretical and computational tools that allow to perform statistical and regression analyses of shapes, touching upon recent mathematical developments as well as applications.
