Worms By Number - Living Organisms Show An Extraordinary Array Of Patterns

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 15 Jun 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Living organisms show a remarkable range of patterns. Numerical patterns often can be described using mathematical rules and equations.

Until now, nature's patterns in some less well-known creatures like marine worms (Polychaeta) have been overlooked.

Some polychaetes show a remarkable alternation pattern in the length and orientation of their fleshy segmental appendages, which they use to sense their environment.

The authors identify mathematical substitution rules that describe these sequences.

They suggest that genes involved in segmental growth probably employ a switching sequence that corresponds to simple mathematical rules, enabling worms to effectively produce complex patterns.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

www.publishing.royalsociety.org/proceedingsb

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