Tooth structure re-engineered

摘要

Afundamental connection between developmental changes and evolution has long been established. This link is gaining renewed emphasis as molecular studies shed new light on evolution by revealing many genetic modifications that alter developmental processes, in turn changing an organisms shape and structure. On page 44 of this issue, Harjunmaa et al. report that, by simply tinkering with the genes and signalling pathways that control the shape of developing teeth, they have remade several different tooth structures in vitro. These structures draw a striking parallel with how teeth evolved from those of distant mammalian ancestors to the teeth of modern-day rodents.