Mathematical Model Provides New Insights into Distribution of Genetic Information During Bacterial Cell Division

The faithful inheritance of genetic material to the next generation is a fundamental process underlying all forms of life. Central to this process is the accurate transmission of copied genetic material during cell division. A research team led by Seán Murray, PhD, at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology has now successfully developed a computational simulation for this central process. Unlike experimental techniques, which are often limited by their resolution, stochastic modeling makes it possible to unravel the underlying processes of DNA segregation and to understand the fine structure of the proteins involved. The findings pave the way for experimental testing and reveal fundamental biochemical principles relevant to synthetic biology and medical applications.