Mathematics Graduate Student Colloquium

MGSC Website: http://math.uci.edu/~mgsc/

Effects of Surface and Line Tension on the Shape of a Vesicle

Geoff Cox
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
4:00 pm - 4:50 pm
RH 190

Talk Abstract:

Why is a red blood cell squished in the center? Many believe that the key to understanding the bioconcave shape of a red blood cell lies in considering vesicles. Vesicles are simpler models of red blood cells that have been studied for several decades.
The shape of such a biological entity is driven by nature's desire to be efficient. In other words, the equilibrium shape of a vesicle will assume a shape that which minimizes the total energy associated with the physical model.
Geoff will formulate the energy to be minimized and derive a system of ODE's which describe the vesicle shape. The talk will conclude with results and future projects.

About the Speaker:

Geoff is a fifth year who went to UCLA and got a BS in Math. His idea of happiness is "enjoying a pint during an angel game followed by a candlelight dinner and a romantic walk on the beach". I can't make that stuff up.

Refreshments:

Pizza will be served after the talk.