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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
The self-organization of patterns is fundamental to biological morphogenesis, although its origin and mechanisms are still unclear. One intriguing morphogenetic mechanism was suggested in the pioneering work of Turing. He suggested that chemical 'morphogens', interacting as activators or inhibitors, and diffusing through a medium, give rise to a chemical pre-patterning. Recently, several experimental groups indeed suggested a relationship between activator-inhibitor approach and biological self-organization through examples of spatially extended periodic patterns. In my talk, I expand the spatiotemporal theory of morphogenesis beyond Turings' paradigm by uncovering the pattern selection mechanisms in the nonlinear regime. In particular these allow creation of a novel isolated localized self-organization in a preparation of vascular-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The biochemical mechanisms of pattern formation suggest therapeutic strategies applicable to bone formation in atherosclerotic lesions in arteries (where it is pathological) and to the regeneration of trabecular bone (recapitulating normal physiological development).