Reaction-diffusion models for biological pattern formation

Reaction-diffusion Models for Biological Pattern Formation

We consider the use of reaction-diffusion equations to model biological pattern formation and describe the derivation of the reaction terms for several illustrative examples. After a brief discussion of the Turing instability in such systems we extend the model formulation to incorporate domain growth. Comparisons are drawn between solution behaviour on growing domains and recent results on sel...

Pattern Formation by Reaction-diffusion

PROBLEM DEFINITION In biology, embryological development of the structure of an organism or limb is referred to as morphogenesis. As a result of morphogenesis, complex shapes and patterns can form starting from just a single cell. Two main mechanisms that contribute to the embryo’s development are cell movement and cell specialization based on cell position. These mechanisms are influenced by s...

Scale-invariance in reaction-diffusion models of spatial pattern formation.

We propose a reaction-diffusion model of spatial pattern formation whose solutions can exhibit scale-invariance over any desired range for suitable choices of parameters in the model. The model does not invoke preset polarity or any other ad hoc distinction between cells and provides a solution to the French flag problem without sources at the boundary. Furthermore, patterns other than the pola...

Pattern formation in spatially heterogeneous Turing reaction–diffusion models

The Turing reaction–diffusion model [Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 237 (1952) 37–72] for self-organised spatial pattern formation has been the subject of a great deal of study for the case of spatially homogeneous parameters. The case of parameters which vary spatially has received less attention. Here, we show that a simple step function heterogeneity in a kinetic parameter can lead to spatial pattern ...

Pattern formation in reaction-diffusion and reaction-diffusion-convection systems