title: Polymer-population mapping and localization in the space of phenotypes.
abstract: We present a mapping between the thermodynamics of an ideal heteropolymer in an external field and the dynamics of structured populations in fluctuating environments. We employ a population model in which individuals may adopt different phenotypes, each of which may be optimal in a different environment. Using this mapping, we develop a path integral formulation for populations and predict the existence of a biological counterpart for the well-known heteropolymer localization phase transition.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Living Matter and Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 34, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Edo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kussell
authors.forename: Stanislas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leibler
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grosberg
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics