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Integument pattern formation involves genetic and epigenetic controls: feather arrays simulated by digital hormone
Ting-Xin Jiang1, Randall B Widelitz, Wei-Min Shen
1Department of Pathology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA.
The International Journal of Developmental Biology
|July 24, 2004
Summary
Pattern formation in organisms is self-organizing, driven by cell interactions and signaling molecules, not just genetic codes. This epigenetic control explains diverse biological patterns and can inform robotic systems.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Morphogenesis
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Pattern formation is a fundamental biological process.
- Existing models of genetic and epigenetic control remain debated.
- Feather morphogenesis provides a model system for studying pattern development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying periodic pattern formation in biological systems.
- To evaluate the roles of genetic and epigenetic control in morphogenesis.
- To develop a computational model for pattern generation.
Main Methods:
- Feather bud reconstitution experiments with dissociated cells.
- Analysis of adhesion and signaling molecule expression.
- Development of the Digital Hormone Model (DHM) based on reaction-diffusion principles.
Main Results:
- Dissociated cells can self-organize into periodic patterns without positional memory.
- Pattern formation exhibits self-organization, dynamism, and plasticity.
- The Digital Hormone Model accurately simulates pattern generation (dots/stripes) based on cell-hormone interactions.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic control, governed by physical-chemical rules and cell interactions, is crucial for pattern formation.
- Genetic control defines cell properties, while epigenetic control dictates the final pattern.
- The principles observed in biological pattern formation may apply to other fields, including robotics.