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Teeth

Teeth

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.
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...

Tooth Anatomy

Tooth Anatomy

The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
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...

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

The Fossil Record

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.

Gene Duplication and Divergence

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Establishing Organoids from Human Tooth as a Powerful Tool Toward Mechanistic Research and Regenerative Therapy

Establishing Organoids from Human Tooth as a Powerful Tool Toward Mechanistic Research and Regenerative Therapy

Published on: April 13, 2022

Tooth Diversity Underpins Future Biomimetic Replications.

Di Wang¹, Shuangxia Han¹, Ming Yang¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)

|February 22, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Exploring tooth diversity across species reveals conserved structures and varied adaptations. This knowledge inspires the development of advanced biomimetic materials with enhanced properties for diverse applications.

Keywords:

biomimetic materials hierarchical structure mechanical properties multifunctionalities tooth diversity

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The Slice Culture Method for Following Development of Tooth Germs In Explant Culture

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Evolutionary Biology
Materials Engineering

Background:

Tooth structure evolution shows both conservation and remarkable diversity across species.
Environmental factors and survival needs drive adaptations in tooth composition, structure, and function.
Studying diverse teeth offers insights for designing biomimetic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on tooth diversity in representative mammals and aquatic animals.
To highlight tooth diversity in terms of composition, structure, properties, and function.
To stimulate further research in synthesizing tooth-inspired materials.

Main Methods:

Survey of existing literature on tooth evolution and structure.
Analysis of diverse examples including human, herbivore, carnivore, shark, sea urchin, chiton, and dragonfish teeth.
Brief coverage of state-of-the-art enamel mimetic synthesis.

Main Results:

Documented diversity in tooth compositions (e.g., magnetite, calcite), structures, and properties.
Identified functional adaptations of teeth for various ecological niches.
Highlighted the potential for enhanced mechanical performance and broader property sets in biomimetic materials.

Conclusions:

Tooth conservation and diversity are crucial for designing advanced biomimetic materials.
Future developments should focus on hierarchical/gradient structures and multifunctional designs.
Opportunities lie in precise and scalable synthesis of tooth-inspired materials.