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Department of Mathematics,
University of California San Diego

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Final Defense

Michael Kelly

Probabilistic Evolutionary Models of Cancer

Abstract:

Cancer is currently viewed as an evolutionary process. In an organ there is a population of cells that give birth, die and mutate according to population dynamics that are determined by the types of cells under consideration. If certain cell mutations are acquired then the cells can become cancerous. In this manuscript we consider two evolutionary models that may each be viewed as a model of cancer. One is a model of colorectal cancer. We discuss results pertaining to the time it takes to develop cancer and the location of the mutations. The other model is a general Moran-type model. We discuss results pertaining to the rate of adaptation.

Host: Jason Schweinsberg

May 22, 2012

1:00 PM

AP&M 7321

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