Teeth have been a key factor in research for evolutionary anthropologists. Recently, a group of scientists have uncovered astounding information garnered from the fossil records of teeth found in historical skulls. This article details the research of Duke University anthropologists and their recent developments on growth bands found in teeth.
By comparing the human genome with those of five other primate species, a team of geneticists and evolutionary anthropologists at Duke University has identified two segments of DNA where natural selection may have acted to give modern humans their thick enamel. Teeth have been an invaluable resource for scientists who study evolution, the authors said. "The fossil record is always the most complete for teeth," said coauthor Christine Wall, associate research professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke. "And enamel thickness has long been a key trait used to diagnose fossil hominins and reconstruct their diets and life histories."
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