Mechanical basis of morphogenesis and convergent evolution of spiny seashells.

Journal article

Convergent evolution is a phenomenon whereby similar traits evolved independently in not closely related species, and is often interpreted in functional terms. Spines in mollusk seashells are classically interpreted as having repeatedly evolved as a defense in response to shell-crushing predators. Here we consider the morphogenetic process that shapes these structures and underlies their repeated emergence. We develop a mathematical model for spine morphogenesis based on the mechanical intera...

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Authors: Chirat, R; Moulton, D; Goriely, A

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
• Volume: 110
• Issue: 15
• Pages: 6015-6020
• Publication date: 2013-04-01
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1220443110
• EISSN: 1091-6490
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• Language: English
• Keywords: Pigmentation; Software; Animal Shells; Morphogenesis; Normal Distribution; Algorithms; Biological Evolution; Animals; Calcium; Mollusca; Models, Biological