Transport Models for Collective Dynamics in Biological Systems

Multiscale biocybernetics during collective cellular navigation from bacterial to cancer

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Tel Aviv University

I will show some examples how to bridge between the intracellular, cellular and population levels. I will also explain why at times there is a mathematical challenge that has to do with the fact that the intracellular dynamics acts as a singular perturbation and coupling to the population level turns the problem from singular problem in partial differential equations into singular problem in Functional equations (functional derivatives). I intend to mainly present the biology but explain why the bacteria pose a need for a new mathematics in two aspects - the singular interplay between levels and also a new functional optimization.