Mathematical modelling of DNA replication in conditions of dNTP scarcity

DNA replication is crucial for all life on Earth. When it does wrong, the result is abnormal cell division and genomic instability, potentially leading to cancers and other diseases. A key experimental technique to study the dynamics of DNA replication is to use chemicals to turn off the production of dNTPs inside cells – dNTPs are the building blocks of DNA. In this project we will build a mathematical model of DNA replication, which will be used to derive important quantitative information from measured data, such as the replication rate and efficiency of different portions of an organism’s genome.