Mathematical modelling of stochastic fork progression in DNA replication

The replication of DNA is one of the most fundamental processes in all biology. Replication carried out by complex molecular machines called replication forks, which propagate along the DNA, scanning and copying its genetic sequence as they go. Replication forks move not with a uniform speed, but in a random-like fashion. The goal of this project is to develop a mathematical model and a computer simulation of this stochastic motion of the replication forks, which will help us understand how the DNA content of living cells can be robustly and reliably replicated despite the stochastic nature of fork progression.