Exploring Self-Organization of Development in the Zebrafish Posterior Lateral Line Primordium with Computer Models

The zebrafish posterior lateral line (pLL) primordium migrates under the skin, from the ear to the tip of the tail, periodically forming and depositing neuromasts to spearhead formation of the pLL system. Cellular, molecular, genetic, and physical manipulation of the pLL primordium coupled with high-resolution imaging of the migrating primordium has helped us understand how interactions between cells coordinate pattern formation, morphogenesis, and collective migration of the pLL primordium. These studies reveal, more broadly, how myriad self-organizing processes operating at multiple scales through physical, chemical, and genetic interaction determine robust emergence of fate, form, and function in the growing animal. This review will summarize how we have used agent-based models and cellular Potts models to integrate what has been learned from experiments and investigate how signaling and mechanical interactions determine emergent patterns, fate, morphogenesis, and collective migration of the primordium.