A mathematical model for vertebrate segmentation (somitogenesis)

Somites arise as the result of a complex process that takes places in the early vertebrate embryo: a seemingly uniform field of cells is organised into discrete blocks via a mechanism which is tightly regulated both in space and time. Further differentiation of the cells within these somitic segments leads to the formation of the vertebrae, ribs and other associated features of the vertebrate musculature.

Various experimental results have shown the existence of a wavefront of gene signalling along the vertebrate embryo, which, coupled with a segmentation clock, is able to gate the cells into blocks that will later go on to form somites. I will use a signalling based approach, with cues from the wavefront and the segmentation clock, to mathematically model somite formation and show that the model can reproduce the results seen in vivo when progression of the wavefront is disturbed.