Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Studying Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2024
Movement adds bite to the evolutionary morphology of mammalian teeth
1Departments of Geological Sciences, Biology, and Anthropology, Indiana University, 1001 E, 10th Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, USA. pdpolly@indiana.edu
Abstract:
Selection and constraints put limits on morphological evolution. Mammalian teeth are no exception, and the need for them to meet precisely exerts exacting constraints on a staggering array of developmental and functional factors that must be integrated to maintain their performance as they evolve. A study in BMC Evolutionary Biology demonstrates that mandibular movement is an important component of this integration, and one that should not be neglected in the quantitiative study of the evolution of tooth morphology.
Related Concept Videos
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Convergent Evolution
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Predator-Prey Interactions

