ON A MODEL MECHANISM FOR THE SPATIAL PATTERNING OF TEETH PRIMORDIA INALLIGATOR

We propose a model mechanism for the initiation and spatial positionin g of teeth primordia in the alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. Det ailed embryological studies by Westergaard & Ferguson (1986, 1987, 199 0) show that jaw growth plays a crucial role in the developmental patt erning of the tooth initiation process. Based on biological data we de velop a reaction-diffusion mechanism, which crucially includes domain growth. The model can reproduce the spatial pattern development of the first seven teeth primordia in the lower half jaw of A. mississippien sis. The results for the precise spatio-temporal sequence compare well with detailed developmental experiments. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limi ted.