Songlin Zhao L&S Math & Physical Sciences
Fixation Dynamics in Spatial Population Under Time-Dependent Selection
Cancer progression arises from tumors developing within dynamic, spatially complex microenvironments where therapies are frequently thwarted by evolving drug resistance. Probabilistic models have served as a cornerstone for understanding evolutionary processes in population genetics, yet conventional approaches often rely on assumptions of static selective pressures and non-spatial conditions. In addition, our research will center around understanding a spatial Moran model with fluctuating selection. Specifically, we will investigate how temporal fluctuations in the selective advantage of a mutation affect its fixation probability in a spatially structured population compared to the constant-selection case. Additionally, we will analyze how a beneficial mutation spreads through space under dynamic selection, examining both the traveling wave speeds of clonal expansion and transient behaviors such as temporary cycles of growth and decline before eventual fixation or loss. In particular, by connecting classical models with scenarios of dynamic selection, our work provides critical insight into the adaptive dynamics of tumors in fluctuating microenvironments.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you for supporting my research into how temporal fluctuations in selective advantage influence mutation fixation and clonal expansion in spatially structured tumor environments. Your generosity makes it possible for me to connect classical probabilistic models with dynamic selection scenarios and investigate transient growth cycles.