Ping Wu, Xiaoshan Wu, Ting-Xin Jiang, Ruth M Elsey, Bradley L Temple, Stephen J Divers, Travis C Glenn, Kuo Yuan, Min-Huey Chen, Randall B Widelitz, Cheng-Ming Chuong
Reptiles and fish have robust regenerative powers for tooth renewal. However, extant mammals can either renew their teeth one time (diphyodont dentition) or not at all (monophyodont dentition). Humans replace their milk teeth with permanent teeth and then lose their ability for tooth renewal. Here, we study tooth renewal in a crocodilian model, the American alligator, which has well-organized teeth similar to mammals but can still undergo life-long renewal. Each alligator tooth is a complex family unit composed of the functional tooth, successional tooth, and dental lamina...
May 28, 2013: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America