Math specialist: Dr. Michael Edmund Beck, Head of Scientific Computation at Bayer CropScience in Monheim, drafts algorithms on the glass wall for computer programs with which he can simulate active ingredient uptake in pests...
Scientists need comprehensive knowledge of chemistry and biology for optimum active ingredient identification. However, they now also use mathematical models and simulations to calculate the breakdown of chemical compounds or how they are transported through a caterpillar's gut. This allows them to draw important conclusions about the molecule’s efficacy.
Promoting active ingredient transport
For example, if insecticides are to effectively combat crop pests, they have to be transported to the right site of action. Using suitable models, Bayer scientists have discovered how to modify a compound so that it can move optimally through a plant’s vascular system. Their computer models and databases not only reduce the number of complex experiments required, but also provide valuable additional information during the search for active ingredients. Read more about the subject here.