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Chemical morphogenesis: Turing patterns in an experimental chemical system

Acta Biotheoretica volume 44, pages 249–261 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

Patterns resulting from the sole interplay between reaction and diffusion are probably involved in certain stages of morphogenesis in biological systems, as initially proposed by Alan Turing. Self-organization phenomena of this type can only develop in nonlinear systems (i.e. involving positive and negative feedback loops) maintained far from equilibrium. We present Turing patterns experimentally observed in a chemical system. An oscillating chemical reaction, the CIMA reaction, is operated in an open spatial reactor designed in order to obtain a pure reaction-diffusion system. The two types of Turing patterns observed, hexagonal arrays of spots and parallel stripes, are characterized by an intrinsic wavelength. We identify the origin of the necessary difference of diffusivity between activator and inhibitor. We also describe a pattern growth mechanism by spot splitting that recalls cell division.

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Affiliations

  1. Centre de recherche Paul Pascal, CNRS-Université Bordeaux I, Avenue Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France

    E. Dulos, J. Boissonade, J. J. Perraud, B. Rudovics & P. De Kepper

Authors
  1. E. Dulos
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  2. J. Boissonade
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  3. J. J. Perraud
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  4. B. Rudovics
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  5. P. De Kepper
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Dulos, E., Boissonade, J., Perraud, J.J. et al. Chemical morphogenesis: Turing patterns in an experimental chemical system. Acta Biotheor 44, 249–261 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046531

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046531

Key words

  • pattern formation
  • morphogenesis
  • Turing patterns
  • reaction-diffusion
  • chemical reaction