FRACTAL FRAGMENTATION IN REPLICATIVE SYSTEMS

Abstract

This paper describes a cell growth model formed by two cell types in which the cells are capable of displacing adjacent populations. Evolution of the model gives rise to patches that are fractally distributed (fractal fragmentation). The fragmentation of the system is not highly sensitive to the relative proportions of the two cell types, and it reveals new insights into fractal pattern formation. It is suggested that the fractal fragmentation is the natural outcome of multiple small perturbations in spatial rearrangement of the cells during multiplication. In addition, the model could prove useful in explaining both the development and spread of clones in a population of cells, and pattern formation in mosaic animal organs, in neither of which active movement of cells is implicit.