Natural science Researchers investigate the development of mammalian nasal patterns

Geneva researchers have investigated the formation of nasal patterns in mammals such as dogs, ferrets and cows. The different growth of the skin layers and the support of underlying blood vessels lead to the formation of polygonal structures.

The research team from the University of Geneva (Unige) used a 3D imaging technique and computer simulations to analyze the embryonic development of mammalian nasal patterns. They found that the outer skin layer grows faster than the inner layer. The blood vessels serve as support, causing domes to form in the outer skin layer, which brace against rigid blood vessels.

Many mammals have a network of polygons on their nose, which are formed by grooves in the skin, Unige announced on Tuesday. These keep the nose moist and facilitate the absorption of pheromones and odor molecules, among other things.

This morphogenetic process, which the researchers describe in the journal "Current Biology", could help to explain other biological structures associated with blood vessels in the future. For example, such processes give rise to the stripes and spots on the skin of zebras and cheetahs.

SDA