Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Diffusion

Diffusion

Diffusion is the passive movement of substances down their concentration gradients—requiring no expenditure of cellular energy. Substances, such as molecules or ions, diffuse from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration in the cytosol or across membranes. Eventually, the concentration will even out, with the substance moving randomly but causing no net change in concentration. Such a state is called dynamic equilibrium, which is essential for maintaining overall...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Kuramoto model with stochastic resetting and coupling through an external medium.

Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)·2025

Same author

Cellular diffusion processes in singularly perturbed domains.

Journal of mathematical biology·2024

Same author

Asymptotic analysis of particle cluster formation in the presence of anchoring sites.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2024

Same author

Global density equations for interacting particle systems with stochastic resetting: From overdamped Brownian motion to phase synchronization.

Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)·2024

Same author

Target competition for resources under multiple search-and-capture events with stochastic resetting.

Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2020

Same author

Stochastic Turing Pattern Formation in a Model with Active and Passive Transport.

Bulletin of mathematical biology·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 27, 2025

3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients

3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients

Published on: May 24, 2019

Morphogen gradient formation in partially absorbing media.

Paul C Bressloff¹

¹Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, 155 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America.

Physical Biology

|September 28, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a probabilistic model for morphogen gradient formation, offering a new perspective on cell patterning. The findings suggest this approach can achieve similar developmental outcomes with reduced accumulation time.

Keywords:

accumulation time intracellular diffusion morphogenesis partial absorption protein concentration gradients robustness

More Related Videos

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology

Published on: August 30, 2007

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Published on: June 12, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 27, 2025

3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients

3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients

Published on: May 24, 2019

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology

A Gradient-generating Microfluidic Device for Cell Biology

Published on: August 30, 2007

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Published on: June 12, 2015

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Mathematical Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Morphogen gradients are crucial for spatial cell patterning in early development.
Classical models often assume constant absorption rates for morphogen diffusion.
Understanding morphogen dynamics is key to embryogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore a generalized diffusion-based model for morphogen gradient formation.
To investigate a probabilistic absorption mechanism using a stopping time condition.
To analyze the impact of absorption variability on gradient profiles and formation time.

Main Methods:

Developed a probabilistic diffusion model where particle absorption depends on occupation time exceeding a random threshold.
Analyzed steady-state concentration gradients and relaxation times under the new model.
Compared results with the classical model where absorption rate is constant.

Main Results:

The generalized model can reproduce concentration profiles similar to the classical diffusion-absorption model.
Probabilistic absorption significantly reduces the time required to reach steady-state gradients.
The choice of the threshold distribution Ψ(a) influences gradient characteristics and accumulation time.

Conclusions:

A probabilistic absorption model offers a more flexible and potentially efficient mechanism for morphogen gradient formation.
This generalized approach provides new insights into the dynamics of developmental patterning.
Reduced accumulation times suggest faster and potentially more robust developmental processes.