Number of "spirals" in the sharingan.

[CapsuleCorpJX]

I think this is how it works.
When we see sasuke first, he has one spiral in his sharingan.
Kakashi has two spirals in his sharingan.
Itachi has three spirals.

My guess is that:
1 spiral = ability to see through high speed movements, genjutsu and ninjutsu.
2 spirals = ability to copy ninjutsu and memorize taijutsu movements.
3 spirals = ability to enter someone's mind by looking at them, bascially master genjustu. This is what happened when Itachi tortured Kakashi just by looking at him. However, I don't think it can be used to control minds.

[Mut]

wtf are spirals?

[CyberPunk]

kakashi has 3 seals in his sharingan, not 2. his sharingan eye is mastered.

[jing]

i think its those Coma looking things.
Kurenai is the one with spirals in her eyes.

edit: just realized that out of these rookie gennins, they all suck at doing genjutsus..../have no talent. or have no special genjutsu attacks........ i think. sakura doesn't count. cuz she hasn't done squat.

[SK]

theres already a thread about this, itachi and kakashi have 3 commas and sasuke has 2, check out the other thread for more insight.

[Assertn]

when you first see sasuke he has 1 in one eye, and 2 in the other

edit: er, first see sasuke use sharingan

[L8r]

sasuke had 1 dot in one eye and two in the other eye the first tiem we saw him with his sharingan...

Kakashi has always had 3 dots in his sharingan.

and Itachi has 3 in each eye