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Related Concept Videos

Teeth01:15

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The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
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During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In...
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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
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Phenotypic Plasticity in Vertebrate Dentitions.

Nidal Karagic1, Axel Meyer1, C Darrin Hulsey1

  • 1Department for Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78467, Germany.

Integrative and Comparative Biology
|June 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Vertebrate teeth can change size, shape, and replacement patterns due to environmental factors, revealing phenotypic plasticity. Understanding these changes is key to the evolution of dental diversity.

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Vertebrate dentition is crucial for trophic interactions.
  • These interactions can feedback to influence tooth structure.
  • Dentitions are often viewed as fixed phenotypes, but plasticity exists.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on phenotypic plasticity in vertebrate teeth.
  • To explore how environmental factors influence tooth diversity.
  • To clarify the role of phenotypic plasticity in dental evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on phenotypic plasticity in teeth.
  • Analysis of how environmental factors induce changes in tooth size, shape, and replacement.
  • Synthesis of findings to understand underlying mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Environmental factors can induce significant changes in vertebrate tooth size, shape, and replacement patterns.
  • Phenotypic plasticity in teeth contributes to dental diversity.
  • Few studies have focused on this topic, despite its potential.

Conclusions:

  • Vertebrate teeth exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental influences.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of this plasticity is vital for evolutionary insights.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the role of phenotypic plasticity in dental evolution.