The consequences of imperfect mixing in autocatalytic chemical and biological systems

Nature. 1995 Mar 23;374(6520):321-7. doi: 10.1038/374321a0.

Abstract

When chemical reactions whose rate increases with the concentration of a product species are carried out in imperfectly mixed systems, a variety of complex behaviours can occur. These phenomena, which have relevance for biological processes as well, include chaotic and stochastic behaviour and selection of one final state over an equally probable alternative.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Systems Theory