Novel Insights into Human Teeth Evolution
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Paleobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 292
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Due to the enamel hardness because of their mineral composition, teeth are the most abundant and well-preserved fossil remains and also the best material to retrieve information of the individuals they belong to. Their high component of genetic expression makes them the “safe box” of the genetic code, giving us the possibility to obtain important variables (e.g., species, age, diet) to reconstruct the specific biography of an identified or even unidentified hominin. Unlike bones, teeth are not subjected to remodelling processes, so when the enamel (amelogenesis) and dentine (dentinogenesis) are completely formed, the size and shape of the crown will only be modified by attrition processes or caries. This peculiarity means that in teeth, more than in any other skeletal part, the expression of the genetic signal remains unaltered, which allows inferring similarities between species in order to establish biological distances between populations. Moreover, the extraordinary inheritability of the degree of expression and the frequency of many dental traits together with the variation in dental form, make teeth more useful than other skeletal elements to assess phylogenetic relationships between species. For all these reasons, dental morphology is an important source of information from a functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic point of view.
The evolution of human teeth is a fascinating topic that sheds light on our evolutionary history, dietary changes and adaptation to various environments. Thus, you are cordially invited to submit original research articles and reviews addressing topics related to the evolution of human teeth. Papers that focus on an innovative and comprehensive approach to the topic are particularly encouraged and welcome.
Dr. Marina Martínez de Pinillos
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- human evolution
- Plio-Pleistocene
- fossil hominins
- dental morphology
- metrics
- permanent teeth
- deciduous teeth
- MicroCT
- outer enamel surface
- enamel dentine junction
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