Updated Turing Theory: Diffusiophoresis Enhances Animal Color Pattern Formation, Study Claims

New Study Proposes the Phenomenon of Diffusiophoresis for Sharper Pattern Formation, Opening Doors to Further Research in Medical Diagnostics and Synthetic Materials.

• Engineers at University of Colorado Boulder have proposed a revision to Alan Turing's theory on animal pattern formation. Where Turing's original theory stated that patterns, like spots and stripes, form through the diffusion of chemical agents interacting with other compounds, didn't explain how such patterns can be distinctly defined.
• The new study posits that a process called diffusiophoresis contributes to the sharpness of animal patterns. Diffusiophoresis is the movement of suspended molecules in a fluid, influenced by a concentration gradient, causing small particles to congregate and form clusters.
• By incorporating diffusiophoresis into Turing's equations, researchers showed that diffusiophoresis effectively 'drags' the pigment cells, or chromatophores, along this concentrated path. Thus, instead of generic and fuzzy patterns, diffusiophoresis allows for formation of sharp, well-delineated contours.
• The findings have potential applications beyond the field of animal biology, such as medical diagnostics and synthetic materials. Understanding how diffusiophoresis contributes to pattern formation can potentially help in developing artificial skin patches for sensing biomarkers, providing early diagnosis.
• While diffusiophoresis provides a significant modification to Turing's theory, researchers acknowledge other processes, like chemotaxis, may also play a role in pattern formation. Further research into these processes and the impact of different cell shapes on pattern formation is needed.

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