Minimal spanning tree analysis of biological structures.
A new approach to study order and disorder in biological membranes and more generally in biological structures is developed. It is based on a graph constructed on the set points representing the position of particles. From this graph, which is called the minimal spanning tree, it is possible to deduce two parameters, namely the average length m and the standard deviation sigma which are characteristic of the repartition to be studied. The use of a diagram involving both m and sigma makes it possible to determine the degree of order by taking a simple reading in the (m, sigma) plane.
Dussert
C
C
Département de Physique des Interactions Photons-Matière, Faculté des Sciences de St Jérôme, Marseille, France.
Rasigni
M
M
Palmari
J
J
Rasigni
G
G
Llebaria
A
A
Marty
F
F
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012984:Software; D013223:Statistics as Topic