Sequential pattern formation in a model for skin morphogenesis

Abstract

During morphogenesis regular patterns often develop behind a frontier of pattern formation which travels across the prospective tissue. Here the authors consider the propagating patterns exhibited in a two-dimensional domain by a tissue interaction mechanochemical model for skin pattern formation. It is shown that the model can exhibit travelling waves of complex spatial pattern formation. Two alternative mechanisms that can produce such sequential patterning are presented. In particular, it is demonstrated that the specification of a simple quasi-one-dimensional pattern is all that is required to determine a complex two-dimensional pattern. Finally, the model solutions are related to actual pattern propagation during chick feather primordia initiation.