Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
autostabilisation
interstabilisation
F
IGURE
24. Inter and autostabilisation.
Interstabilisation is stabilisation of a cell
type by the molecules of the other type (e.g. RED type by green molecules).
Autostabilisation is stabilisation of a type by its own molecules (e.g. RED type by
red molecules). In both cases the cell system stabilises but interstabilisation pro-
duces small areas of cells while autostabilisation produces large ones.
different effects. In the case of interstabilisation (Fig. 24A), small
areas of cells of each type are intertwined in the matrix whereas
with autostabilisation, large homogeneous areas are produced
(Fig. 24B). If the experiment is repeated several times, the cell
population always becomes stabilised, with interstabilisation always
producing small areas and autostabilisation always producing large
areas. This difference between interstabilisation and autostabilisa-
tion can be easily understood. In the case of interstabilisation, one
cell will promote the stabilisation of cells of the other type in
its environment, which produces small areas. In the case of autosta-
bilisation, one cell will promote stabilisation of cells of its own type,
which produces large areas. This is reminiscent of lateral inhibition
and lateral induction phenomena during embryogenesis. Lateral
inhibition occurs when a cell inhibits the formation of adjacent
cells of the same type, whereas lateral induction is the reverse. In the
former case, mosaic tissues are formed from different cells alternating,
whereas in the latter, homogeneous tissues are produced (Lewis, 1998).
