Turing Equation Explains how Leopard Spots Develop

BilZ0r writes "A slight modification of an equation developed by Alan Turing in 1952 has been used to show how the patterns of big cats change from kitten to adult markings. Sy-Sang Liaw of National Chung-Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan, and colleagues set out to replicate these patterns using Turing's equations. But they found they had to do more than just tweak the parameters of the reaction-diffusion equation. Instead they had to assume two stages of spot growth with different rules: the first to get the baby cats their spots, and the second to create the final configurations. It took them a year to find a final solution."

Comments

The point is, you never know.

[Elemenope]

Some researchers dicking around with orange molds accidentally discovered this little thing called PENICLLIN. Some Swiss mountain hiker got irritated with little seeds that kept sticking to his clothes, which upon further inspection led to the invention of VELCRO.

On the other hand, researchers trying to solve a critical rubber shortage during World War II came up with an earth-shattering invention: SILLY PUTTY.

Point is, you just never know. ;)