  An asymptotic equation of motion for the pattern interface in the
domain-forming reaction-diffusion systems is derived. The free boundary problem
is reduced to the universal equation of non-local contour dynamics in two
dimensions in the parameter region where a pattern is not far from the points
of the transverse instabilities of its walls. The contour dynamics is studied
numerically for the reaction-diffusion system of the FitzHugh-Nagumo type. It
is shown that in the asymptotic limit the transverse instability of the
localized domains leads to their splitting and formation of the multidomain
pattern rather than fingering and formation of the labyrinthine pattern.
