Snowflakes

Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns In Nature And The Mathematics

Behind It
Peng Feng1
1 Department

of Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Florida Gulf Coast University

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Outline
1

Snowflakes

Patterns in Nature
Patterns in Nonbiological Systems
Patterns in Biological Systems

Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns

A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern

Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis

A Few Comments
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

No Two Snowflakes Are the Same

Source:
www.snowcrystals.com, maintained by Kenneth G. Libbrecht
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

1611, Kepler pondered on the question why snowflakes

always exhibit a six-fold symmetry;

1635, mathematician Descartes gave some reasonably

accurate description;

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

1954, Physicist Ukichiro Nakaya performed systematic

study on the formation of snowflakes:

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

Outline
1

Snowflakes

Patterns in Nature
Patterns in Nonbiological Systems
Patterns in Biological Systems

Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns

A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern

Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis

A Few Comments
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

Ripples of Sand

Source:
Bob Bauer, 2002
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

Outline
1

Snowflakes

Patterns in Nature
Patterns in Nonbiological Systems
Patterns in Biological Systems

Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns

A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern

Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis

A Few Comments
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

Shells of South West Florida

Source:
http://www.meddybemps.com/shells/shells2draw.html
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

Animal Skin Patterns

Java fish, Zebra fish, Rabbit fish and Angel fish

http://www.panagadivers.com/Diving/Fishes.htm

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

More Animal Skin Patterns

Leopard, Zebra

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

Patterns in Bacterial Colony

Source
Courtesy of Professor Eshel Ben-Jacob
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Patterns in Nonbiological Systems

Patterns in Biological Systems

More Patterns

Nautilus and Romanesco Broccoli:

http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

What is Diffusion?

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Modeling Diffusion

u(t, x, y ):the density of a certain chemical compound at

time time t and at (x, y ) R 2 ;
Diffusion:The chemical will move from high density places
to low density places;
Diffusion is the mechanism of many molecular and cellular
movement;
It can be described by the heat equation ut = u where
u := uxx + uyy .

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Modeling Diffusion

u(t, x, y ):the density of a certain chemical compound at

time time t and at (x, y ) R 2 ;
Diffusion:The chemical will move from high density places
to low density places;
Diffusion is the mechanism of many molecular and cellular
movement;
It can be described by the heat equation ut = u where
u := uxx + uyy .

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Modeling Diffusion

u(t, x, y ):the density of a certain chemical compound at

time time t and at (x, y ) R 2 ;
Diffusion:The chemical will move from high density places
to low density places;
Diffusion is the mechanism of many molecular and cellular
movement;
It can be described by the heat equation ut = u where
u := uxx + uyy .

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Modeling Diffusion

u(t, x, y ):the density of a certain chemical compound at

time time t and at (x, y ) R 2 ;
Diffusion:The chemical will move from high density places
to low density places;
Diffusion is the mechanism of many molecular and cellular
movement;
It can be described by the heat equation ut = u where
u := uxx + uyy .

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Simulation of Diffusion Equation

Consider the one dimensional equation: ut = kuxx where u(t, x)
represents the temperature on a beam at time t and location x,
k : heat conductivity or how fast heat will transport; This
equation usually coupled with a boundary condition and initial
condition. For example u(0, x) = u0 (x) and
u(t, 0) = u(t, 1) = 0.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

An Example of Reaction-diffusion System

ut = u + f (u, v ),

vt = dv + g(u, v ),
ux = 0, x = 0, a, u(x, 0) = u(x, b),

vx = 0, x = 0, a, v (x, 0) = v (x, b),

u(0, x, y ) = u0 (x, y ),
Solution of the
P system: (k 2 )t
W(x, y, t) =
C e
cos
 2 n,m=0
 n,m
2
n
4m
k 2 = 2 a 2 + b 2 .
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

t > 0, (x, y ) (0, a) (0, b),

t > 0, (x, y ) (0, a) (0, b),
ux (x, 0) = ux (x, b),
vx (x, 0) = vx (x, b),
v (0, x, y ) = v0 (x, y ).
(1)
nx
a

cos

Patterns In Nature

my

,
b

where

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Few Quick Observations

When b is small, striped patterns are more likely (constant

along the y axis);
When b is large, spotted patterns are more common (Not
constant along y axis);
Snakes always have rings, but not spots;
Animal can have spotted body and striped tail
but rarely striped body with a spotted tail.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Few Quick Observations

When b is small, striped patterns are more likely (constant

along the y axis);
When b is large, spotted patterns are more common (Not
constant along y axis);
Snakes always have rings, but not spots;
Animal can have spotted body and striped tail
but rarely striped body with a spotted tail.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Few Quick Observations

When b is small, striped patterns are more likely (constant

along the y axis);
When b is large, spotted patterns are more common (Not
constant along y axis);
Snakes always have rings, but not spots;
Animal can have spotted body and striped tail
but rarely striped body with a spotted tail.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Few Quick Observations

When b is small, striped patterns are more likely (constant

along the y axis);
When b is large, spotted patterns are more common (Not
constant along y axis);
Snakes always have rings, but not spots;
Animal can have spotted body and striped tail
but rarely striped body with a spotted tail.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Few Quick Observations

When b is small, striped patterns are more likely (constant

along the y axis);
When b is large, spotted patterns are more common (Not
constant along y axis);
Snakes always have rings, but not spots;
Animal can have spotted body and striped tail
but rarely striped body with a spotted tail.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Examples of Cos in Skin Pattern

Valais goat; Belted Galloway Cow(Oreo Cow?); Panda:

Found at: Southwestern Switzerland; Scotland; Sichuan
Province, China.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Genet; Lemur; Snake:

Found at: East Africa; Madagascar, South Africa; Common .
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Turing

One of the greatest scientists of 20th century;

Turing machine; Father of computer science;

Breaking of U-boat Enigma, saving battle of Atla

Source:
www.turing.org.uk

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Turings Diffusion-driven Instability

In a system of equations modeling two interactive substances,

different diffusion rates could lead to nonhomogeneous
distributions of such reactants, i.e., the occurrence of patterns.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Reaction-Diffusion System
Consider the hypothetical chemical reactions:
U + 2V

3V

(2)

(3)

Assume: U is fed into the reaction at a constant rate F and

precipitate P is removed;
Rate of change of U: remove rate uv 2 ; feed rate F (1 u);
Thus
ut
vt

= Du u uv 2 + F (1 u)
2

= Dv v + uv (F + k )v

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

(4)
(5)

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Consider the equilibrium solution (u, v ) = (u , v ) of the system

ut
vt

= Du u uv 2 + F (1 u)

= Dv v + uv 2 (F + k)v

u = 12 1 1 42 F , v =

0 = uv 2 + F (1 u)
uv 2 (F + k )v
0 =

1
2
2 1 1 4 F .

Recall : For y 0 (t) = 1 y 2 , the equilibrium solution y = 1 is

stable limt y (t) 1 for y (t) with suitable initial condition.
An idea : Instability of the constant solutions implies possible
complicated patterns. Even though the type of patterns will
require more detailed analysis.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Pattern Developing Process 1:

k=0.062; F=0.05

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Pattern Developing Process 2:

k=0.057; F=0.018

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Pattern Developing Process 3:

k=0.001; F=0.005

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Phase Diagram for Bacillus

Source:
K. Kawasaki et. al. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 1997.
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Simple Looking Mathematical Model for Bacteria

Colony Pattern

bt = Db 5 {nb 5 b} + nb,

n = D n nb,
n
t
n(x, y , 0) = n0 , b(x, y , 0) = b0 (x, y )

n = b = 0,

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

in
in

(6)

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Shouldnt gene be playing a

huge role here???

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Mutation in Fruit Fly

Figure: Bithorax mutant

Figure: Antennapedia
mutant

Caused by a single homeodomain gene.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Figure: Small wing

mutant

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Gene Expression

Figure: Fushi Tarazu (ftz) mRNA in

Drosophila embryo, by in situ
hybridization;(Hafen, Kuroiwa and
Gehring, Cell, 1984)
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Figure: Another example, courtesy of

Sean Carroll, HHMI

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Formation of Somites

What is Somite:
Paired blocks of mesoderm cells along the vertebrate body axis
that form during early vertebrate development and differentiate
into dermal skin, bone and muscle.
Mouse: 60 somites; Chick: 28 somites; (Every 90 minutes)
Snake: can reach up to 500; Gene: Chick: C-hairy-1 Zebrafish:
her-1
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Biology 101

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Mathematical Model for Gene Regulation in A Cell

dp
= am(t p ) bp(t),
(7)
dt
dm
= f (p(t m )) cm(t),
(8)
dt
p : time lag between the initiation of the translation and the
appearance of a mature protein
m : time lag between transcription and the appearance of a
mature mRNA molecule.
b and c: degradation rates of proteins and mRNAs,
respectively.
a is the translational constant.
n
f (p) = kn +p
n : Switch-like phenomena.
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Parameter
a
b
c
k
n

p
m

Value
4.5 molecules/min
0.23 molecules/min
0.23 molecules/min
33 molecules/cell min
5
40 molecules
2.8 min
10.2 min 31.5 min

Table: Estimated parameters for her1 gene.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Let r = m /p and we can reduce the system to the following

one with dimensionless time t/p , which is again denoted by t:
dp
= p [am(t 1) bp(t)],
dt
dm
= p [f (p(t r )) cm(t)].
dt
The steady states E = (p , m ) satisfy

(9)
(10)

am bp = 0,

(11)

k n
cm = 0.
n + pn

(12)

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Theoretical Result
Theorem

ka n1 n
When c > b
n 1, E = (p , m ) is asymptotically stable
n
for all r > 0. When c is small, there exists a critical value r0
such that the steady state E is asymptotically stable for
r [0, r0 ) and unstable for r > r0 , where


2+ bc2p
1
arccos
r0 =
1,
(13)
+
bc1 2p
and
1
1
2+ = (b2 + c 2 )2p + 2p [(b2 c 2 )2 + 4b2 c12 ]1/2
2
2
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

(14)

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Future Direction

This model only deals with a single cell;

It does give us some insight into the mechanism;
Modeling the cell network communications can be very
complex;
One mechanism for cell communication is Delta-Notch
Pathway.
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

What does it take to model biological problem?

A sound understanding and appreciation of the biological

problem;
A realistic mathematical representation of the important
biological phenomena;
A biological interpretation of the mathematical analysis and
results in terms of insights and predictions.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

What does it take to model biological problem?

A sound understanding and appreciation of the biological

problem;
A realistic mathematical representation of the important
biological phenomena;
A biological interpretation of the mathematical analysis and
results in terms of insights and predictions.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

What does it take to model biological problem?

A sound understanding and appreciation of the biological

problem;
A realistic mathematical representation of the important
biological phenomena;
A biological interpretation of the mathematical analysis and
results in terms of insights and predictions.

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Further Readings

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

A Few People

James Murray, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics,

University of Washington

Philip Maini, Center of Mathematical Biology, University of

Oxford
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

E. Ben-Jacob, Tel Aviv University, Former President of

Israel Physical Society
Hans Meinhardt, Max-Planck Institute

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Are we abusing mathematics?

Or are we ignoring it?

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Are we abusing mathematics?

Or are we ignoring it?

Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature

Snowflakes
Patterns in Nature
Turing Mechanism for Skin Patterns
A Mathematical Model for Bacteria Colony Pattern
Delay Induced Oscillations in Somitogenesis
A Few Comments

Thank you!
Peng Feng pfeng@fgcu.edu

Patterns In Nature