Signal processing across biological scales

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• Steffen Rulands (LMU)
• Tuesday 11 March 2025, 13:00-14:00
• Center for Mathematical Sciences, Lecture room MR4.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Sarah Loos.

Understanding how fluctuations propagate across spatial scales is central to our understanding of inanimate matter, from turbulence to critical phenomena. In contrast to physical systems, biological systems are organized into a hierarchy of processes on a discrete set of spatial scales: they are compartmentalized. In this talk, I will first show that dynamic compartmentalization of stochastic systems leads to emergent, quasi-particle-like kinetics, which cells use to perform key biological functions. Specifically, we derive a general theory that predicts the emergence of a single degree of freedom irrespective of system specifics. We obtain equations of motion and response characterising its unique kinetic properties. We experimentally demonstrate the biological relevance of quasi-particle kinetics in the decision of cells to commit suicide (apoptosis). In the second part of my talk, I will discuss how ideas from theoretical biophysics can contribute to our understanding of emergent phenomena in deep learning.

This talk is part of the DAMTP Statistical Physics and Soft Matter Seminar series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All CMS events
• Center for Mathematical Sciences, Lecture room MR4
• DAMTP Statistical Physics and Soft Matter Seminar
• Soft Matter
• bld31

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