Use a compartmental model to calculate the number of mature cells produced from a single cell in a particular compartment. Use a doubling time of 24 hours (ln (2)=m) and a mature cell half-life of 8 hours (ln (2)=kd). Assume that self-renewal can take place only in the first compartment with a probability of 0.5. Use a total of 10 compartments and calculate the number of cells as a function of time with the initial conditions:
and vary j between 1 and 8. Plot all curves on the same plot. Discuss the implications of your results for transplantation.