Chapter 22
Reaction-diffusion (Turing systems)

Biological structures emerge through coordinated interactions between cells, chemical signals, and physical constraints.
These interactions generate organised patterns that guide the formation of tissues and organs.

This chapter explores pattern formation as the result of interacting biological fields operating across cellular boundaries during development.

Developing organisms rely on chemical gradients that vary across space.
Cells detect their position within these gradients and adjust their behaviour accordingly.

This chapter explores gradient fields as spatial signalling systems that guide cellular differentiation and coordinated development.

Cells determine their developmental roles by interpreting signals from their surrounding environment.
Through signalling molecules and regulatory networks, cells gain information about their location within the organism.

This chapter examines positional encoding as the process by which biological systems translate spatial information into organised developmental outcomes.