Thinned COE random matrix models for DNA replication

Abstract

This paper details an observation that for more primitive organisms, such as some yeasts, the statistical distribution of the origins of replication sometimes looks remarkably like the distribution of eigenvalues from the Circular Orthogonal Ensemble (COE) of random matrices. This does not hold for more complex organisms, but a uniform thinning of the COE eigenvalues (which interpolates between the COE and uncorrelated, Poisson statistics) gives a platform to investigate characteristics of replication origin distribution in other species where data is available.