An Age and Position Dependent Model for the Growth of a Column of Cells

Abstract

A probabilistic model is developed for the growth of cells in a one dimensional column. The integral equation used by demographers to describe age dependence in population modeling is extended to incorporate position dependence and accounts for cell division and growth in the column which depend on the position of the cells and their ages. The model provides a basic description of the growth characteristics associated with a plant root or a thin leaf.