8.592 - HST.452J (Spring
2026)
Statistical Physics
in Biology
Lecture 5
Evolving Populations (backward
Kolmogorov)
- The backward Kolmogorov equation:
- Steady states with absorbing states
- Derivation of the backward Kolmogorov equation
- Fixation:
- General solution of the backward Kolmogorov equation
- Fixation probability with selection
- Fixation probability of a new mutation
- Mean first passage times:
- Mean time to fixation
- Mean time to loss
- Mean survival time
(Lecture Notes)
8.592 lec5- last update 9/22/2026 by
M. Kardar