#morphogenesis

Organ Building Basis

Cells and tissue are supported by extracellular matrix known as the basement membrane. Study of fruit fly egg chambers (pictured) as a model system reveals that members of the ADAMTS enzyme family control the basement membrane's composition and properties that underlie organ shape

Read the published research article here

Image from work by Uwe Töpfer and colleagues

Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

Image contributed and copyright held by Uwe Töpfer

Research published in Cell Reports, July 2024

Let’s talk about Turing patterns!

Turing patterns are a concept introduced by mathematician Alan Turing, and he describes how patterns - shown here as stripes and splotches or spots on my frog stickers - occur naturally during morphogenesis (the process that causes tissue to form shape by controlling the spatial distribution of cells during early development).

In an otherwise stable and asymmetrical state of growth, the interaction of the chemicals controlling that growth autonomously result in the formation of pigmented markings on animals and plants.

And once you start to look, you’ll find Turing-style reaction-diffusion systems can be seen in all sorts of places:

Wind ripples in sand caused by the interplay of accumulation and degradation.

The nanoscale formation of atomically thin layers of bismuth crystals.

The uneven distribution of matter in galactic discs.

The feedbacks involved in replication, competition and predation may even set up organized patterns in animal communities.