Waves of Pattern Formation and Signal Pathways

The model addresses the question of the origin of traveling waves, mimicking waves of the Hh and Dpp proteins such as found in development of the fly eye. These two proteins, which are part of an important signaling pathway to the genome, are found in a diverse array of developmental situations, for example in the formation of the proximal–distal axes in limbs. The complex intracellular biochemistry involved is modeled in the simplest way in both cases, with the intent that concepts be emphasized over biochemical detail.