Polymer-Population Mapping and Localization in the Space of Phenotypes

Edo Kussell, Stanislas Leibler, and Alexander Grosberg

Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 068101 – Published 7 August 2006

Abstract

We present a mapping between the thermodynamics of an ideal heteropolymer in an external field and the dynamics of structured populations in fluctuating environments. We employ a population model in which individuals may adopt different phenotypes, each of which may be optimal in a different environment. Using this mapping, we develop a path integral formulation for populations and predict the existence of a biological counterpart for the well-known heteropolymer localization phase transition.

Received 30 March 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.068101

Authors & Affiliations

Edo Kussell and Stanislas Leibler

Laboratory of Living Matter and Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 34, New York, New York 10021, USA

Alexander Grosberg