Seeking Art in Science

Chaos
During early development, an embryo uses stored chemical energy to emit signals that help synchronize cell division. But what happens when that chemical energy throws a wrench into the process? This visual representation of a mathematical model shows the impact of "asymmetrical" chemical energy on the cell division of an African clawed frog embryo. In the image, time moves from bottom to top. The oscillations that accompany cell division are stable at first, but they soon give way to waviness, and then to chaos. Researchers are investigating how the embryo maintains synchronous cell division despite its sensitivity to internal fluctuations.

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