Illumination on the Fractal Growth of Plants

Fractal Ocean
by Solarsail

Ice Castle Fractal by Kitty Ann
by KittyAnnStudio

​It has been known for a long while now that DNA within our cell nuclei is able to function as a protein blueprint, that once used will form molecules which assemble a tertiary structure according to their own electro-magnetic formation, independent of the original instructions. It has been assumed that from there on all the other steps of the formation of an organism can be established with these first primary fundamentals. Finding the proof of this is clearly difficult, as biochemistry is a process that is ongoing and with steps on the nano-scale. Mapping the chemical steps that bridge chemistry into biology is a matter of continual research.


Because nature is relative to itself, many processes can be seen to cross entire families of the gene tree. The contents of my cells are nearly identical to all mammalian cells and pretty much the same as any animal cell. Even for plants, we share the same basic biomolecular ingredients. Organic chemistry is the name for all chemical processes which form molecules used by life. We can detect organic chemistry in space, using spectroscopy which identifies the emission and absorption spectra from glowing gasses.


Another step on the ladder to the formation of life from the chemical ingredients has been identified by researchers at the University of Sydney. It's been known for a while that fractal mathematics creates the correct geometry that describes the formation of shapes that life uses. Spirals are one of the simplest formations that can be formed in this way. Self repeating patterns that describe shape and mode of repetition within themselves can be seen in all kinds of biology. Even our own bodies can be shown to demonstrate these principles.


Plants use a hormone called auxin to cause growth. This chemical triggers the elongation and division of cells, and it's been shown to be sensitive to light which breaks it down. This means that areas facing away from the light source will grow faster making the plant grow towards the light. Now it has been shown that hotspots of auxin form around the stem of newly growing leaves that allow the plant to evenly distribute their growth according to a spiral shape. By attracting auxin from neighbouring cells, the hot cell can give itself the benefits of several cells' auxin. As the attraction is not a strong process, the new hotspot can be formed at a predefined place along the stem, according to the reach of the chemical. Although not fully understood, this process works on molecular and leaf levels, creating spiral formations in the growth of the plant. Light sensitive biology is mostly in the plant world, however our eyes also can be categorised in this way, and perhaps on some level, the way they work can be seen as the same too. 

结构生物化学（Structural Biochemistry)

Fractal 967
by KiDAcE

Mandelbrot Fractal Zoom
by CleverBullet