Mathematical model of transcription loss due to accumulated DNA damage

Abstract

We offer a simple mathematical model of gene transcription loss due to accumulated DNA damage in time based on widely agreed biological axioms. Closed form formulae characterizing the distribution of the underlying stochastic processes representing the transcription loss upon specified number of DNA damages are obtained. Moreover, the asymptotic behavior of the stochastic process was analyzed. Finally, the distribution of the first hitting time of transcription loss to specified biologically relevant levels was studied both analytically and computationally on mice data.