The Dynamical Behaviour of the Age-Size-Distribution of a Cell Population

It is appropriate to think of the celI cyde as an ordered sequenceof biochemical events, such as the synthesis of RNA and proteins and the replication of DNA, finally ending up in cell division. The rate at which these biochemical events, such as the increase of structural materials, proceed may heavily depend on volume (size) through such factors as diffusion times and surfaceto volume ratios. In section 1.4 and chapter II we therefore considered the case that the position of a particular cell in its cycle was adequately described by its size. However, some of the biochentical reactions seem to proceed sequentiaIly during a cell's Iife cyc1e and for such reactions cell age provides a better description.