Phase transitions of biological phenotypes by means of a prototypical PDE model (Q2178979)

In the context of transitions between epithelial and (motile) mesenchymal cells (densities \(u\) and \(v\), respectively), the system \[ \tau u_t = v-u, \qquad v_t = \Delta v -v +\lambda g(u) \] is studied (for positive relaxation time \(\tau\) and invasiveness \(\lambda\) and an S-shaped reaction function \(g\)). Solutions which are spatially constant or exhibit a planar symmetry are considered; in the latter setting travelling wave solutions are examined and an identity for their speed of propagation is shown. The article concludes with extensive numerical experiments concerning travelling fronts. Their speed is evaluated by means of the LeVeque-Yee formula for discrete wave speed, whose justification and relation to the Rankine-Hugoniot relation are discussed.