MATH 338 Calendar

Spring 2019


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Note that this page will be updated continuously throughout the semester, so make sure to refresh your browser to see the most updated version.

Homework sets will be uploaded here, together with due dates (typically one week after uploading). Solutions will appear on Sakai . Exam dates will also be posted.

DOx denotes Chapter x of Prof. Ocone's notes. See Resources.


Lecture Date Topics Reading and homework assignments
Week 1
1 Tue 01/22 Introduction to course, comparison between stochastic and determinisitc framework, basic "death" process example, quick review of probability

Review DO2, and begin reading DO1

2 Thu 01/24 Special lecture from Professor Sanchez-Tapia on basic epidemic modeling

Lecture notes introducing epidemiological model (SIS model)

Continue reading DO1

Homework 1 (due 02/07)

Week 2
3 Tue 01/29 Continue introductory basic "death" process model, review of probability, introduction to genetics and heredity

Slides on genetics (based on DO1)

Review DO2, and continue reading DO1

4 Thu 01/31 Finish introduction to genetics, mathematical analysis of genetics in large population

Continue reading DO1

Section 3.1 of DO3

Week 3
5 Tue 02/05 Finish genetics lecture, start mathematical analysis of genetics of large population models

Slides on genetics (based on DO1)

Section 3.1 of DO3

6 Thu 02/07 Genetic evolution models without selection

Section 3.2 of DO3

Homework 2 (due 02/14)

Week 4
7 Tue 02/12 Continue analysis of random mating and no selection, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, mutations, and overlapping generations

Section 3.2 of DO3

8 Thu 02/14 More examples of modeling without selection, basic solutions of linear difference equations, overlapping generation model

Section 3.2 and 3.4 of DO3

Homework 3 (due 02/21)

Quiz 1

Week 5
9 Tue 02/19 Solution of first-order difference equations, finish overlapping generations, introduction to selection models

Sections 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 (Appendix) of DO3

10 Thu 02/21 Analysis of selection model, nonlinear difference equations, cobwebbing

3.4 of DO3

Homework 4 (due 03/05)

Week 6
11 Tue 02/26 Finish analysis of selection models.

Section 3.4 DO3

12 Thu 02/28 Exam 1 Chapters 1, 2, 3 of DO3 (excluding Section 3.3)

Exam 1 information

Review problems

Week 7
13 Tue 03/05 Introduction to finite population stochastic models. Markov chains.

Section 4.1 DO4

Homework 5 (due 03/14)

14 Thu 03/07 Basic properties of Markov chains. Random walks. Transition matrices and one-step probabilities. Examples from stem-cells and DNA.

Section 4.1 DO4

Week 8
15 Tue 03/12 Moran and Wright-Fisher Markov chains. General birth-death processes.

Section 4.1 DO4

16 Thu 03/14 Model of DNA. General properties of Markov chains. Asymptotic behavior of distributions. Matrix diagonalization.

Section 4.2 DO4

Homework 6 (due 03/28)

Week 9
Spring Break!
Week 10
17 Tue 03/26 Finish matrix diagonalization example. Limiting distributions. Conditional and absolute expectations of Markov chains.

Section 4.2 DO4

18 Thu 03/14 General Markov property. Classification of states. Stationary distributions. Examples from Wright-Fisher and Moran models.

Sections 4.4, 4.5 DO4

Homework 7 (due 04/09)

Quiz 2

Week 11
19 Tue 04/02 Limiting distribution of Markov chains. Classification of states. Recurrence and transience.

Section 4.5 DO4

20 Thu 04/04 Stationary distribution of Markov chains. Basic Ergodic theory. Examples from Wright-Fisher and Moran models.

Section 4.5 DO4

Exam 2 next Thursday (4/11)

Week 12
21 Tue 04/09 Stationary distributions and limit behavior for aperiodic irreducible Markov chains. Applications to Wright-Fisher and Moran models (with mutations).

Section 4.5 DO4

22 Thu 04/11 Exam 2 Chapters 3 (roughly)

Exam 2 information

Review problems

Week 13
23 Tue 04/16 Introduction to Luria-Delbrück experiment related to spontaneous vs. directed drug resistance. Basic stochastic analysis and result of experiment.

Introduction to Luria-Delbrück distribution

24 Thu 04/18 Rigorous analysis of Luria-Delbrück distribution. Review of moment-generating functions.

Mathematical details of Luria-Delbrück distribution

Original 1943 paper

Homework 8 (due 04/25)

Week 14
25 Tue 04/23 Finish analysis of Luria-Delbrück experiment. Introduce generalization to understand more statisitical properties. Moment-generating functions. Mathematical details of Luria-Delbrück distribution
26 Thu 04/25 Analyze Luria-Delbrück distribution via generating functions. Approximation via integrals. Generalizations to different mutant growth rates and sotchastic growth of mutants.

Mathematical details of Luria-Delbrück distribution

Homework 9 (due 05/06)

Week 15
27 Tue 04/30 Introduction to stochastic modeling of chemical reactions. Basic examples. Chemical master equation (CME) and mass-action kinetics. Notes on stochastic chemical kinetics. Sections 4.1-4.3.2.
28 Thu 05/02 Further analysis of chemical reaction networks. Continous-time Markov chains and exponential waiting times. Transition probabilities.

Notes on stochastic chemical kinetics. Sections 4.4 and 4.5.

Extra Credit: Please send me your groups and topics by 05/03 if you intend to complete a project.