State vector models of the cell cycle II: The first three moments of the transit time distribution

Abstract

A discrete time state vector model (the Hahn model) has been used to simulate many experiments in cell kinetics. In the first paper in this series the authors described a new method to define the parameters of the Hahn model suitable for use in automatic fitting of fraction of labelled mitoses (FLM) experiments. In this paper it is shown how to compute the first three moments of the transit time distribution which arises from a Hahn model. These moments are compared analytically and numerically to the corresponding moments of the distribution the authors used to define the Hahn model. Finally, the problems involved in estimating the moments of the transit time distribution observed in fitting FLM data using a Hahn model are discussed.