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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Apr 7.

Published in final edited form as: J Theor Biol. 2009 Dec 23;263(3):317–327. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2009.12.020

Suppose sequences of length n₁ to n₂ replicate and that a sequence of length i can be extended to form a sequence of length i + 1. (a) The chain amplification ratio R_A is the number of second generation templates of length n₂ obtained from a single template of length n₁. “Second generation” means that the sequence has exactly one other sequence of length n₂ in its production lineage. Here n₁ = 3, n₂ = 4, and R_A = 5, if the numbers are interpreted as averages. (b) The cumulative basic reproductive ratio R_C is the number of direct offspring of a sequence even as it is extended to form longer sequences. Again n₁ = 3 and n₂ = 4. The length 3 sequence is copied twice before being extended. The new length 4 sequence is copied three times before being extended. Thus R_C = 5, again if the numbers are interpreted as averages.

Suppose sequences of length n₁ to n₂ replicate and that a sequence of length i can be extended to form a sequence of length i + 1. (a) The chain amplification ratio R_A is the number of second generation templates of length n₂ obtained from a single template of length n₁. “Second generation” means that the sequence has exactly one other sequence of length n₂ in its production lineage. Here n₁ = 3, n₂ = 4, and R_A = 5, if the numbers are interpreted as averages. (b) The cumulative basic reproductive ratio R_C is the number of direct offspring of a sequence even as it is extended to form longer sequences. Again n₁ = 3 and n₂ = 4. The length 3 sequence is copied twice before being extended. The new length 4 sequence is copied three times before being extended. Thus R_C = 5, again if the numbers are interpreted as averages.