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Genetic correlations in the rhesus macaque dentition
1Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA; Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
Journal of Human Evolution
|October 15, 2020
Summary
Quantitative genetics reveals distinct dental modules in rhesus macaques, suggesting regional patterns of tooth evolution. These findings indicate genetic factors influencing dental traits may be stable across primate evolution.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Quantitative genetics
- Primate dental morphology
Background:
- Understanding how complex traits evolve under natural selection requires examining genetic relationships.
- Previous studies on baboons, humans, and tamarins show varied dental modularity patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations of dental measurements in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
- To test hypotheses of dental modularity (by tooth type, region, function, development) using quantitative genetic data.
Main Methods:
- Linear dental measurements were collected from Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques.
- Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated.
- A random skewers approach assessed the genetic correlation matrix against modularity hypotheses.
Main Results:
- Dental measurements were moderately to highly heritable.
- Most genetic correlations between dental dimensions were positive.
- The genetic correlation matrix supported regional modularity with distinct anterior and postcanine tooth modules.
Conclusions:
- The observed regional dental modularity in macaques aligns with patterns in baboons and other cercopithecoid primates.
- Functional relationships between canines and honing premolars may be maintained by selection rather than strong genetic constraints.
- Genetic contributions to dental patterns appear stable in cercopithecoid evolution, warranting further studies across primate taxa.
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