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Related Concept Videos

Spontaneity02:21

Spontaneity

A spontaneous process is one that occurs naturally under certain conditions. A nonspontaneous process, on the other hand, will not take place unless it is “driven” by the continual input of energy from an external source. Processes have a natural tendency to occur in one direction under a given set of conditions. Water will naturally flow downhill (spontaneous process), but uphill flow (nonspontaneous process) requires outside intervention such as the use of a pump. Iron exposed to the earth’s...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
Second Law of Thermodynamics02:49

Second Law of Thermodynamics

In the quest to identify a property that may reliably predict the spontaneity of a process, a promising candidate has been identified: entropy. Processes that involve an increase in entropy of the system (ΔS > 0) are very often spontaneous; however, examples to the contrary are plentiful. By expanding consideration of entropy changes to include the surroundings, a significant conclusion regarding the relation between this property and spontaneity may be reached. In thermodynamic models, the...
Second Law of Thermodynamics00:53

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy, or the amount of disorder in a system, increases each time energy is transferred or transformed. Each energy transfer results in a certain amount of energy that is lost—usually in the form of heat—that increases the disorder of the surroundings. This can also be demonstrated in a classic food web. Herbivores harvest chemical energy from plants and release heat and carbon dioxide into the environment. Carnivores harvest the chemical energy...
What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.The Theory of Natural...

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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Environmentally Induced Heritable Changes in Flax
08:10

Environmentally Induced Heritable Changes in Flax

Published on: January 26, 2011

Nothing in nature is as consistent as change.

Kurt W Alt, Anne Rossbach

    Frontiers of Oral Biology
    |October 16, 2009
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Dental wear, including edge-to-edge bite, is a natural, age-dependent process. Modern diets and lifestyles have largely prevented this physiological tooth wear, which can actually benefit oral health.

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    Area of Science:

    • Paleo-dentistry
    • Dental Anthropology
    • Biomineralization

    Background:

    • Dentition is a mechanically stressed component of the orofacial system.
    • Physiological wear processes affect occlusal surfaces, incisal edges, and contact points due to abrasive food particles, chewing, and erosion.
    • Historically, both deciduous and permanent dentition exhibited distinct hard tissue defects, often progressing from overbite to edge-to-edge bite.

    Observation:

    • Skeletal series from different German regions, spanning various ages and sexes, were analyzed for occlusal hard tissue changes.
    • Skulls were photographed in standardized positions and radiographically examined.
    • Abrasive changes in ancestral dentition contrast sharply with modern populations, primarily due to subsistence and dietary preparation differences.

    Findings:

    • Dental wear is a natural, age-dependent process, not inherently pathological.
    • Abrasion can impede crowding and contact surface caries.
    • Edge-to-edge bite is identified as the preferable occlusion in humans.

    Implications:

    • Modern 'civilization' has artificially prevented natural dental wear over the past two centuries.
    • Understanding natural dental wear provides insights into long-term oral health and evolutionary adaptations.
    • Re-evaluating edge-to-edge bite as a natural and potentially beneficial occlusion is warranted.