MODELING OF GENE REGULATORY PROCESSES BY POPULATION MEDIATED SIGNALING. NEW APPLICATIONS OF POPULATION BALANCES

Chem Eng Sci. 2012 Mar 5:70:188-199. doi: 10.1016/j.ces.2011.07.062. Epub 2011 Aug 11.

Abstract

Population balance modeling is considered for cell populations in gene regulatory processes in which one or more intracellular variables undergo stochastic dynamics as determined by Ito stochastic differential equations. This paper addresses formulation and computational issues with sample applications to the spread of drug resistance among bacterial cells. It is shown that predictions from population balances can display qualitative differences from those made with single cell models which are usually encountered in the literature. Such differences are deemed to be important.