The neural origins of shell structure and pattern in aquatic mollusks.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Boettiger A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2672551 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
The neural origins of shell structure and pattern in aquatic mollusks.
Boettiger Alistair A Ermentrout Bard B Oster George G
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20090407 16
We present a model to explain how the neurosecretory system of aquatic mollusks generates their diversity of shell structures and pigmentation patterns. The anatomical and physiological basis of this model sets it apart from other models used to explain shape and pattern. The model reproduces most known shell shapes and patterns and accurately predicts how the pattern alters in response to environmental disruption and subsequent repair. Finally, we connect the model to a larger class of neural m ...[more]
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