Molecular level clarification of the mechanism for animal skin pattern formation

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We analyzed the mechanism of skin pattern formation in zebrafish in order to have the substantial evidence to prove the hypothesis, "the basic mechanism of biological pattern formation is the Turing wave". We found,(1)the skin pattern of zebrafish has the specific dynamics of Turing wave, (2)the interactions among the pigment cells satisfies the required conditions for the Turing pattern formation, and (3)the key molecules those critical to the wave formation are gap-junction, Notch-Delta and Kir channels. About 90% of the aim of this project is completed. Now our final goal, the detailed identification of the molecular network of Turing wave, should be very close.