Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025
13:58
Flat Mount Imaging of Mouse Skin and Its Application to the Analysis of Hair Follicle Patterning and Sensory Axon Morphology
Published on: June 25, 2014
21.6K
The developmental basis of fingerprint pattern formation and variation.
James D Glover1, Zoe R Sudderick1, Barbara Bo-Ju Shih1
1The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK.
Cell
|February 10, 2023
Summary
Human fingerprints develop from a partial hair follicle program, not recruiting mesenchymal cells. A Turing reaction-diffusion system involving EDAR, WNT, and BMP signaling creates unique fingerprint patterns through wave-like epithelial growth.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Dermatology
- Pattern formation
Background:
- Fingerprints are unique skin patterns formed prenatally.
- The molecular and cellular mechanisms driving fingerprint formation remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the developmental mechanisms underlying fingerprint ridge formation and pattern generation.
- To identify the key signaling pathways involved in establishing fingerprint patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fingerprint ridges as truncated hair follicle developmental programs.
- Modeling fingerprint pattern formation using a Turing reaction-diffusion system.
- Investigating the roles of EDAR, WNT, and BMP signaling pathways.
Main Results:
- Fingerprint ridges develop from epithelial structures with a halted hair follicle program, lacking mesenchymal condensate recruitment.
- A Turing reaction-diffusion system, driven by EDAR, WNT, and BMP signaling, establishes the spatial pattern of fingerprint ridges.
- Pattern formation involves waves of epithelial proliferation originating from distinct sites, with their interaction determining the final pattern type.
Conclusions:
- Fingerprint patterns arise from a dynamic process of epithelial growth regulated by specific signaling pathways.
- The interplay of signaling and wave propagation explains the diversity and uniqueness of human fingerprints.
Related Concept Videos
01:03IR Frequency Region: Fingerprint Region
1.0K
IR spectra are divided into two main regions: the diagnostic region and the fingerprint region. The diagnostic region of the spectrum lies above 1500 cm−1. The absorptions resulting from single-bond vibrations of the N–H, C–H, and O–H stretch at higher wavenumbers and appear on the left side of the spectrum. The stretching absorptions of the C≡C and C≡N occur between 2100–2300 cm−1. In contrast, those arising from stretching absorptions of the...
1.0K
01:14Psychosexual Theory of Development
432
Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's...
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's...
432
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
2.1K
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
2.1K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.6K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.6K
01:51Determination
18.7K
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In...
18.7K
02:19Morphogenesis
28.6K
Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.
28.6K