A Method to Categorize 2-Dimensional Patterns Using Statistics of Spatial Organization. (9th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: López-Sauceda, Juan; Rueda-Contreras, Mara D
• Is Part Of: Evolutionary bioinformatics online. Volume 13(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-03-09
• Subjects: Spatial organization -- pattern -- shape -- epithelial topology -- Namibia fairy circles; Bioinformatics -- Periodicals; Evolutionary computation -- Periodicals; Genetic programming (Computer science) -- Periodicals; Computational Biology; Evolution, Molecular; Bioinformatics; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1177/1176934317697978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1176-9343

Abstract

We developed a measurement framework of spatial organization to categorize 2-dimensional patterns from 2 multiscalar biological architectures. We propose that underlying shapes of biological entities can be approached using the statistical concept of degrees of freedom, defining it through expansion of area variability in a pattern. To help scope this suggestion, we developed a mathematical argument recognizing the deep foundations of area variability in a polygonal pattern (spatial heterogeneity). This measure uses a parameter called eutacticity . Our measuring platform of spatial heterogeneity can assign particular ranges of distribution of spatial areas for 2 biological architectures: ecological patterns of Namibia fairy circles and epithelial sheets. The spatial organizations of our 2 analyzed biological architectures are demarcated by being in a particular position among spatial order and disorder. We suggest that this theoretical platform can give us some insights about the nature of shapes in biological systems to understand organizational constraints.