AI Article Synopsis
- Positional specification through morphogen gradients is typically seen as a two-step process involving gradient formation followed by its interpretation, akin to spatial measurement in classical mechanics.
- The authors propose a new framework where the creation and understanding of these gradients are interconnected, reflecting a dynamic relationship similar to the feedback in Einstein’s general relativity concerning mass-energy and space-time.
- They suggest that this concept of general relativistic positional information (GRPI) can enhance approaches to understanding how patterns develop in biological systems.
Article Abstract
Positional specification by morphogen gradients is traditionally viewed as a two-step process. A gradient is formed and then interpreted, providing a spatial metric independent of the target tissue, similar to the concept of space in classical mechanics. However, the formation and interpretation of gradients are coupled, dynamic processes. We introduce a conceptual framework for positional specification in which cellular activity feeds back on positional information encoded by gradients, analogous to the feedback between mass-energy distribution and the geometry of space-time in Einstein's general theory of relativity. We discuss how such general relativistic positional information (GRPI) can guide systems-level approaches to pattern formation.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/dev.018697 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!