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5. VERIFYING MOD EL S
gastrovascular system about the physiological state of the colony. Polyps
behave simply: they are relatively inactive when not feeding and they oscillate
vigorously following ingestion for many hours thereafter. This generates
a dynamic pattern of fluid transport throughout a colony and metabolic
activity within cells. These simple rules of polyp behavior therefore provide
local information that cells can use to make morphogenetic decisions. In
this way, information about the physiological state of the colony emerges
from the communication between polyps that are each sensing the local
environment and this integrated translation of information generates an
adaptive morphogenetic response.