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How Leopards get Their Spots
Will Brennan
How Zebras Get Their Stripes
Spots and Stripes Skin coloration is
caused by melanin
What is the cause of specific patterns such as spots and stripes?
Modeling animals Spot and stripe arrangement are
random and distinct, yet share a definite pattern…
This led mathematicians to realize that there must be some way to model the phenomena
Models Emerge Two models emerge:
– One was developed by James Murray, and the other was developed by David Young
Both models both incorporate the same elements however: reaction-diffusion
Young Model Young’s model is based off of cellular
automata modeling Young has 4 assumptions on his
model:– There are two types of cells; colored(D)
and uncolored(U)– The colored cells secrete 2 morphagens;
an inhibitor(I) and an activator(A)
Diffusion of Morphagens As the D cells
release the A and I morphagens, they diffuse throughout the environment
Near the D cells, there is a higher concentration of A, but this is inverse with its distance from D
What’s it all mean? Cell type is determined by the
concentration of the morphagens in its area
If over a U cell, A>I then the cell will switch to a D and start producing morphagens
Conversely, if over a D cell, I>A, then it will change to a U
How does this explain the patterns?
if AD - w*ID > 0 set the central cell to D, if AD - w*ID < 0 set the central cell to U if AD - w*ID = 0 leave the central cell
unchanged.
Model in Action Young's model
The shape of the patterns can then be changed by inputting different variables for the area of the model
Murray’s model Also based on reaction-diffusion, but
concentrated on the rate of diffusion as opposed to concentration
Also had two chemicals; an inhibitor and an activator working on the cells
Speed is of the essence The chemicals work at different
speeds; – The activator is slower– While the inhibitor is faster
This disparity in speed allows the inhibitor to surround the activator during diffusion, causing a spot.
An Analogy
Forest Fires mimic this same dynamic
Fires burn first, but diffuse slowly. Firefighters respond, spraying untouched
trees surrounding the fire with anti-inflammatory chemicals, containing the fire in Spots
Theory in action By changing the rate of diffusion then,
the pattern will be different.
Murray also found as Young did that shape plays a role in the development of the pattern
Spots vs Stripes Since spotted leopards and striped
tigers are about the same adult size, he concluded that it must happen during development
i.e. the zebra resembles a long thin pencil like shape during development, resulting in its stripes
Harmony Although Murray and Young
used slightly different methods to model the formation of spots and stripes, they both agreed that it can be solved through mathematical modeling