Stochastic Treatments of Mitochondrial Genetics

Mitochondrial mutations are responsible for diseases in development and of later life. This project investigates how levels of mutation might fluctuate in tissues and how these fluctuations could feasibly controlled. We are taking mathematical models which have been described for single cells and carefully analysing some of their statistical properties to identify when mutations might reach high levels inside cells. We are also examining what might happen if different cells are coupled together. This work would be classified as applied probability/statistics or mathematical biology. This work will be joint with Cambridge Clinical Neuroscience.