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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2015

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Life Sciences

Markov chains

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The Effect Of Diversification On The Dynamics Of Mobile Genetic Elements In Prokaryotes: The Birth-Death-Diversification Model, Nicole E. Drakos Jul 2015

The Effect Of Diversification On The Dynamics Of Mobile Genetic Elements In Prokaryotes: The Birth-Death-Diversification Model, Nicole E. Drakos

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are ubiquitous among prokaryotes, and have important implications to many areas, such as the evolution of certain genes, bioengineering and the spread of antibiotic resistance. In order to understand the complex dynamics of MGEs, mathematical models are often used. One model that has been used to describe the dynamics of mobile promoters (a class of MGEs) is the birth-death-diversification model. This model is unique in that it allows MGEs to diversify to create new families. In this thesis, I analyze the dynamics of this model; in particular, I examine equilibrium distributions, extinction probabilities and mean time …