A model of morphogenesis

A new model is presented of a patterning mechanism in animals. It is argued that the ‘Wnt’ signaling pathway often acts in binary conjunction with a variety of other pathways to produce complex patterning. This patterning follows while involving little of the detailed biochemistry of either of the two pathways involved. The patterns arise spontaneously from a state of zero pattern activation upon achieving a specified (epithelial) sphere radius. Gastrulation follows from the simplest solution, and assuming a simplest form for the coupling of the Gauss and Mean curvatures to the morphogens. Numerical solutions are presented, and predictions of the model are discussed.