Genome rearrangements and algebraic geometry

Gefry Barad

KNOTS in WASHINGTON XV (2nd Japan-USA Workshop in Knot Theory)
January 10-15, 2003
George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University
Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD, USA

Organizers
Kazuaki Kobayashi, Jozef H. Przytycki, Yongwu Rong, Shin-ichi Suzuki, Kouki Taniyama, Tatsuya Tsukamoto, Akira Yasuhara

Conference Homepage

Genome rearrangements and algebraic geometry
by
Gefry Barad
Baltimore

We develop a link between genome rearrangements and algebraic geometry . The evolutionary distance between genomes can be measured as a number of elementary rearrangements such as reversals. Such evolutionary changes can be modeled using algebraic geometry (i.e the combinatorics of some moduli spaces). Similar connections have been pointed out before by Waterman and Penner ( Adv. in Math. 1993), and by E.M.Jordan (1996). Our approach puts a bridge between Pevzner-Hannenhalli Theory, and the work of Davis et al., Devadoss and Yoshida. A simple application in topology provides a proof of the non-orientability of some spaces. The long range challenge is to apply these new understanding to study computational complexity of the problem.

Date received: January 7, 2003