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On the difficulty of increasing dental complexity
Enni Harjunmaa1, Aki Kallonen, Maria Voutilainen
1Developmental Biology Program, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Nature
|March 9, 2012
Summary
Researchers increased mouse tooth complexity by adjusting multiple signaling pathways. Manipulating ectodysplasin (EDA), activin A, and sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathways simultaneously doubled cusp number, offering new insights into developmental complexity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Morphological complexity in life's history, particularly mammalian tooth evolution, appears to increase over time.
- Experimental developmental studies often reveal a decrease in complexity, exemplified by cusp loss in mouse teeth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if mouse tooth complexity can be substantially increased by simultaneously adjusting multiple signaling pathways.
- To quantify changes in tooth complexity using cusp number and surface topography.
Main Methods:
- In vitro culture of mouse teeth.
- Simultaneous adjustment of ectodysplasin (EDA), activin A, and sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathways.
- Quantification of tooth complexity via cusp count and topographic analysis.
Main Results:
- Individual pathway adjustments (EDA, activin A activation; SHH inhibition) caused moderate complexity increases.
- Simultaneous adjustment of all three pathways doubled the number of cusps.
- Increased cusp number resulted from altered primary developmental patterning, not increased tooth size.
Conclusions:
- Simultaneously modulating multiple signaling pathways can significantly enhance phenotypic complexity.
- The mechanisms driving increased complexity may differ fundamentally from those causing decreased complexity.
- Findings suggest a potential pathway for understanding evolutionary increases in morphological complexity.
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