Abstract
The article presents a novel stochastic mathematical model of mitosis in heterogeneous (multiple-phenotype), age-dependent cell populations. The developed computational techniques involve flexible use of differentiation tree diagrams. The applicability of the model is discussed in the context of the Haeckelian (biogenetic) paradigm. In particular, the article puts forward the conjecture of generality of Haeckel’s recapitulation law. The conjecture is briefly collated against relevant scientific evidence and elaborated for the specific case of evolving/mutable cell phenotypes as considered by the model. The feasibility, basic regimes and the convenience of the model are tested on examples and experimental data, and the corresponding open source simulation software is described and demonstrated.
MSC 92D25 Population dynamics, 92C15 Developmental biology, 92C30 Physiology (general)
Footnotes
Department of Physics, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK E-mail address: yuriy.alexandrov{at}imperial.ac.uk Photonics Group, Department of Physics, Prince Consort Road, Imperial College London, UK