posted on 2019-04-03, 23:36authored byQAMARIYA NASRULLAH
Mammals showcase great diversity in tooth shape and size, helping them eat a variety of foods. To make teeth functional, their formation needs to be precisely controlled. This thesis examines patterns of tooth size, shape and replacement, and the controls behind the final product. I found that wallabies have unusual tooth replacement, and that controlling tooth size can allow for eternal replacement of teeth. Within mice, tooth-tooth inhibition can constrain the final tooth shape, allowing teeth to grow more or less complex. This thesis reveals fundamental controls that determine tooth size, shape and number in mammals.