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Pattern formation by competition: a biological example

M. Bezzi, A. Ciliberto, A. Mengoni

physics.bio-pharXiv:physics/9909012

Abstract

We present a simple model based on a reaction-diffusion equation to explain pattern formation in a multicellular bacterium (Streptomyces). We assume competition for resources as the basic mechanism that leads to pattern formation; in particular we are able to reproduce the spatial pattern formed by bacterial aerial mycelium in case of growth in minimal (low resources) and maximal (large resources) culture media.

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