The Clonal Mosaic Model for Pattern Formation
We are currently investigating a new model to explain pattern
formation for mammalian coat patterns. In this model the patterns
reflect an underlying cell arrangement and different hair colors
result from different types of underlying cells.
This is work in collaboration with Mark Reimers (UofT) who
has suggested the model. The mechanism for pattern formation is
based on cell-to-cell interactions and divisions. Its specific goal is to
generate repeating spotted patterns occurring in several
species of mammals, especially the big cats (leopard, tiger, cheetah, ...),
and giraffes.
From a biological perspective the model has a strong appeal from its
use of recent experimental evidence on pigment cells and other pigment
related mechanisms; from a computer graphics perspective the model can
not only deliver many patterns which are visually similar to real
patterns and can be used as textures, but it is also amenable to
simulation on arbitrary surfaces.
The animals, their real patterns, and the computed patterns
Validation of the Patterns (or why should we call a Voronoi diagram a Giraffe diagram instead!)
Time lapse
Time Lapse Movie
(SGI format)(134K)
(MPEG format)(127K)
Kingdon Patterns
Pictures scanned from the book East African Mammals: an atlas
of evolution in Africa by Jonathan Kingdon.
Go
back
to my Home page.