Alan Turing is a patron saint of Manchester, remembered as the Mancunian who won the war, invented the computer, and was all but put to death for being gay. Each myth is related to a historical story. This is not a book about the first of those stories, of Turing at Bletchley Park. But it is about the second two, which each unfolded here in Manchester, of Turing’s involvement in the world’s first computer and of his refusal to be cowed about his sexuality. Manchester can be proud of Turing, but can we be proud of the city he encountered?
For centuries, scientists and mathematicians have sought to explain why Fibonacci numbers appear in plant spirals. In recent decades, a modern consensus framework has emerged, offering a compelling mathematical and biological model that goes beyond Fibonacci structure to explain a variety of plant forms. This book provides a rigorous yet accessible introduction to that framework, spanning the mathematics of the Euclidean algorithm, bifurcation theory, and modern molecular biology. Delving into the mechanics of how plants determine organ placement, the book introduces key mathematical tools to classify and analyze these patterns. It examines classic and contemporary models, from Hofmeister’s hypothesis to transporter protein-based auxin mechanisms, evaluating their current effectiveness in explaining the evolution and development of plant design. Written for mathematicians, biologists, and interdisciplinary researchers, Mathematics of Phyllotaxis equips readers with the knowledge to critique and contribute to this evolving field. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or simply fascinated by nature’s mathematical beauty, this gorgeously illustrated book offers fresh insights into one of biology’s most intriguing mysteries.
