Biological self-organisation and pattern formation by way of microtubule reaction-diffusion processes

Abstract

Chemically dissipative or Turing processes, have been predicted by theoreticians as a way by which an initially homogenous solution of chemicals or biochemicals can spontaneously self-organise and give rise to a macroscopic pattern by way of a combination of reaction and diffusion. They have been advanced as a possible underlying process for biological self-organisation and pattern formation. Until now, there have been no examples of in vitro biological substances showing this type of behaviour. Evidence is presented that microtubule solutions in vitro self-organise in this manner and that similar processes may occur in vivo during embryogenesis.