Turing Pattern Formation from the Cooperation of Competition and Cross-Diffusion

Abstract

This paper investigates the pattern formation in a reaction–diffusion (R-D) system where two interacting species form coupled positive and negative feedback loops. It is found that the cooperation of competition and cross-diffusion can lead to the Turing pattern formation for which an adequate set of conditions are analytically derived. Such a mechanism of generating Turing patterns is different from the case that self-diffusion is sufficient to generate Turing patterns in a paradigm model (proverbially called as the Turing model) where two interacting species constitute a single negative feedback loop. Therefore, this work not only provides another model paradigm for studying the pattern formation but also would be helpful for understanding the formation of, for example, diversiform skin patterns in the mammalian world where coupled positive and negative feedback loops are ubiquitous.