Modeling echinoid skeletal growth: A first principles approach

摘要

A heuristic growth model is proposed that will use hypothetical signaling pathways to model plate nucleation and insertion, induction of the ambulacra, plate growth via nutrient diffusion and lateral inhibition, and growth allometry by morphogen gradients and decay. The resulting set of equations, based on known biochemical processes, will define the insertion and growth of each individual plate in the modeled animal. Geo-metric simplifications make possible simulation of a 3-dimensional model using existing computer technology. A prototype, "proof of concept", 3-dimensional model is demonstrated.