Modelling stripe formation in zebrafish: an agent-based approach

Authored by Alexandria Volkening, Bjoern Sandstede

Date Published: 2015

DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0812

Sponsors: United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Zebrafish have distinctive black stripes and yellow interstripes that form owing to the interaction of different pigment cells. We present a two-population agent-based model for the development and regeneration of these stripes and interstripes informed by recent experimental results. Our model describes stripe pattern formation, laser ablation and mutations. We find that fish growth shortens the necessary scale for long-range interactions and that iridophores, a third type of pigment cell, help align stripes and interstripes.
Tags
Evolution movement Organization Generation Pigment pattern-formation Cell-interactions Turing patterns Melanophores Xanthophores Iridophores