No abstract

This paper considers the relative frequencies of distinct types of individuals in multitype branching processes. We prove that the frequencies are asymptotically multivariate normal when the initial number of ancestors is large and the time of observation is fixed. The result is valid for any branching process with a finite number of types; the only assumption required is that of independent individual evolutions. The problem under consideration is motivated by applications in the area of cell biology. Specifically, the reported limiting results are of advantage in cell kinetics studies where the relative frequencies but not the absolute cell counts are accessible to measurement. Relevant statistical applications are discussed in the context of asymptotic maximum likelihood inference for multitype branching processes.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/08-AAP539 the Annals of Applied Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aap/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

This paper demonstrates a new regeneration processes technology making use of positive stable distributions. We study the asymptotic behavior of branching processes with a randomly controlled migration component. Using the new method, we confirm some known results and establish new limit theorems that hold in a more general setting.

No abstract