Table of Contents

TODO Introduction

The model presented by Varela, Maturana, and Urbie1 demonstrates an autopeietical organization that constructs and maintains a membrane surrounding a catalyst.

I implemented the model using Rust, since I have been wanting to learn more about the language. The source code is available here.

TODO The Model

The wold for the model is an infinite two dimensional grid filled completely with substrate elements. Distributed throughout the world are catalyst elements that react with the substrate to form links. Reactions that form links consume two substrate elements, leaving behind a hole in addition to the newly formed link.

TODO Making it asynchronous

TODO Results

broken-autopoiesis.png

Figure 1: If catalysts (red) and holes (black) cannot pass through bonded links (pink and white for single- and double-bonded respectively), this is the result. Five catalysts are shown, none of which have established a closed membrane

Footnotes:

1

Varela, F. G., Maturana, H. R., & Uribe, R. (1974). Autopoiesis: the organization of living systems, its characterization and a model. Biosystems, 5(4), 187-196.

Published on 2019-07-09 Tue 10:59