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DTSTAMP:20260815T000501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20130412T154005Z
DTSTART:20130412T190000Z
DTEND:20130412T200000Z
UID:event1098@bu.edu
URL:http://physics.bu.edu/internal/events/show/1098
SUMMARY:Ecology and evolution of cancer tumors and expanding populations
DESCRIPTION:Featuring Kirill Korolev\, MIT\n\nPart of the Biophysics/Conden
	sed Matter Seminar Series.\n\nAbstract:  Species expand their geographic ra
	nges following an environmental change\, long range dispersal\, or a new ad
	aptation. For species like the influenza virus\, range expansions are the w
	ay of life. When species spread to new territories\, they not only alter th
	e affected ecosystems\, but also change the course of their own evolution. 
	I will show that range expansions enhance the role of demographic fluctuati
	ons and create nontrivial spatial patterns of genetic diversity\, which can
	 be easily visualized in growing microbial colonies. The buildup of spatio-
	genetic correlations profoundly alters evolutionary dynamics and could dest
	roy genetic diversity even when it is favored by natural selection. I will 
	also formulate a theory of evolutionary innovations that lead to population
	 growth and apply it to cancer progression. Interestingly\, tumor developme
	nt is not a straightforward progression to malignancy because evolution is 
	severely constrained by initial population size\, mutation rate\, and the e
	ffect of deleterious mutations. Below a critical population size\, tumors a
	re overwhelmed by deleterious mutations and tend to regress\, while larger 
	tumors accumulate beneficial mutations and grow. Progression to cancer is t
	hen akin to crossing an energy barrier in chemical kinetics. This theory ex
	plains some paradoxes in cancer research and is consistent with recent sequ
	encing data. More important\, the theory is also useful in designing treatm
	ent strategies based on the accumulated deleterious mutations\, a potential
	 Achilles' heel of cancer.
LOCATION:SCI 352\, 590 Commonwealth Avenue\, 02215
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CLASS:PUBLIC
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