1
|
Nava A, Lugli F, Lemmers S, Cerrito P, Mahoney P, Bondioli L, Müller W. Reading children's teeth to reconstruct life history and the evolution of human cooperation and cognition: The role of dental enamel microstructure and chemistry. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105745. [PMID: 38825260 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Studying infants in the past is crucial for understanding the evolution of human life history and the evolution of cooperation, cognition, and communication. An infant's growth, health, and mortality can provide information about the dynamics and structure of a population, their cultural practices, and the adaptive capacity of a community. Skeletal remains provide one way of accessing this information for humans recovered prior to the historical periods. Teeth in particular, are retrospective archives of information that can be accessed through morphological, micromorphological, and biogeochemical methods. This review discusses how the microanatomy and formation of teeth, and particularly enamel, serve as archives of somatic growth, stress, and the environment. Examining their role in the broader context of human evolution, we discuss dental biogeochemistry and emphasize how the incremental growth of tooth microstructure facilitates the reconstruction of temporal data related to health, diet, mobility, and stress in past societies. The review concludes by considering tooth microstructure as a biomarker and the potential clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Nava
- Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, via Caserta 6, Rome 00161, Italy.
| | - Federico Lugli
- Institut of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Frankfurt Isotope and Element Research Center (FIERCE), Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Giuseppe Campi, 103, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Simone Lemmers
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., AREA Science Park, s.s. 14 km 163,500, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paola Cerrito
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Mahoney
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Giles Ln, Giles Ln, Canterbury CT2 7NZ, UK
| | - Luca Bondioli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua, Piazza Capitaniato, 7, Padua 35139, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Müller
- Institut of Geosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Frankfurt Isotope and Element Research Center (FIERCE), Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mahoney P, McFarlane G, Loch C, White S, Floyd B, Dunn EC, Pitfield R, Nava A, Guatelli-Steinberg D. Dental biorhythm is associated with adolescent weight gain. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2022; 2:99. [PMID: 36016726 PMCID: PMC9395425 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00164-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence of a long-period biological rhythm present in mammalian hard tissue relates to species average body mass. Studies have just begun to investigate the role of this biorhythm in human physiology. Methods The biorhythm is calculated from naturally exfoliated primary molars for 61 adolescents. We determine if the timing relates to longitudinal measures of their weight, height, lower leg length and body mass collected over 14 months between September 2019 to October 2020. We use univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to isolate and identify relationships with the biorhythm. Results Participants with a faster biorhythm typically weigh less each month and gain significantly less weight and mass over 14-months, relative to those with a slower biorhythm. The biorhythm relates to sex differences in weight gain. Conclusions We identify a previously unknown factor that associates with the rapid change in body size that accompanies human adolescence. Our findings provide a basis from which to explore novel relationships between the biorhythm and weight-related health risks. The human body undergoes cyclic changes such as the daily cycle of sleeping and waking, and monthly menstruation. This study calculated one cycle that can be tracked through the growth of children’s milk teeth. The timing of the cycle in different children was compared to changes in body size that occurred when these children were in puberty. A link was seen between the children’s cycle and the weight they gained over 14-months. Adolescents with a faster cycle typically weighed less each month and gained less weight over 14 months compared to those with a slower cycle. Mahoney et al. calculate the long-term biorhythm of adolescents from primary molar teeth and examine the relationship with weight, height and mass. Faster biorhythms are associated with a lower weight, and reduced weight and mass gain during adolescence.
Collapse
|
3
|
Enamel growth rate variation of inner, mid, and outer enamel regions between select permanent tooth types across five temporally distinct British samples. Arch Oral Biol 2022; 137:105394. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
4
|
McFarlane G, Guatelli-Steinberg D, Loch C, White S, Bayle P, Floyd B, Pitfield R, Mahoney P. An inconstant biorhythm: The changing pace of Retzius periodicity in human permanent teeth. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 175:172-186. [PMID: 33368148 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Human tooth enamel retains evidence of growth in the form of Retzius lines. The number of daily growth increments between the regularly occurring lines defines their repeat interval, or periodicity. Retzius periodicity is often incorporated into enamel formation times, age-at-death reconstructions, or used to provide a basis from which to explore an underlying biorhythm. Biological anthropologists typically assume that RP remains constant within an individual and does not vary along the tooth-row. Here, we test that assumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS RP was calculated from n = 223 thin sections of human permanent teeth from individuals of British and southern African origin. Forty individuals provided multiple teeth (n = 102 teeth) and a further 121 individuals each provided a single tooth. RESULTS We report first evidence that RP of permanent teeth does not always remain constant within an individual. Of those individuals that provided multiple teeth, 42% (n = 17/40) demonstrated a decrease in RP along the tooth row, with most shifting by two or more days (n = 11). Across the entire sample, mean RP of anterior teeth was significantly higher than molars. Mean premolar RP tended to be intermediate between anterior teeth and molars. DISCUSSION Our data do not support the assumption that RP invariably remains constant within the permanent teeth of an individual. Transferring RP from molars to incisors within an individual can result in a miscalculation of formation time and age-at-death by up to 1 year. Implications for biological anthropologists and the source of the underlying long period biorhythm are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gina McFarlane
- Human Osteology Lab, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg
- Human Osteology Lab, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.,Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Carolina Loch
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | - Sophie White
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, New Zealand
| | | | - Bruce Floyd
- School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rosie Pitfield
- Human Osteology Lab, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Patrick Mahoney
- Human Osteology Lab, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mahoney P, McFarlane G, Pitfield R, O'Hara MC, Miszkiewicz JJ, Deter C, Seal H, Guatelli-Steinberg D. A structural biorhythm related to human sexual dimorphism. J Struct Biol 2020; 211:107550. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
|
6
|
Behie AM, Miszkiewicz JJ. Enamel neonatal line thickness in deciduous teeth of Australian children from known maternal health and pregnancy conditions. Early Hum Dev 2019; 137:104821. [PMID: 31330463 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physiological disruptions to early human development have implications for health and disease in later life. Limited research has explored how prenatal factors influence dental development in children of mothers with known pregnancy conditions. Enamel in human deciduous teeth begins forming in utero and is highly susceptible to physiological upsets experienced perinatally. The moment of birth itself is marked in deciduous enamel by the Neonatal Line (NNL) as a baby transitions from the uterine to external environment. This study evaluates the effect of maternal health factors that include stress and alcohol consumption on NNL in teeth from Australian children. STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS Mothers (n = 53) were interviewed about their health during pregnancy and experience of birth. Sixty-five deciduous teeth (incisors, molars, one canine) from their children were donated for histological examination. Neonatal line thickness was measured from thin sections and evaluated against maternal and neonatal factors using statistical analyses, controlling for tooth type and birth number. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The only maternal factor of a statistically significant effect on NNL thickness was alcohol consumption. Children of mothers who drank occasionally during pregnancy had a thicker NNL when compared to children of mothers who abstained. These results suggest that maternal lifestyle factors influence NNL formation possibly due to physiological changes that disrupt calcium homeostasis during enamel deposition. We highlight large intra-specific variation in human NNL expression. The potential of dental sampling in identifying children with prenatal exposure to alcohol is suggested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison M Behie
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, 44 Linnaeus Way, Banks Building, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Justyna J Miszkiewicz
- School of Archaeology and Anthropology, 44 Linnaeus Way, Banks Building, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Xing S, Tafforeau P, O’Hara M, Modesto-Mata M, Martín-Francés L, Martinón-Torres M, Zhang L, Schepartz LA, de Castro JMB, Guatelli-Steinberg D. First systematic assessment of dental growth and development in an archaic hominin (genus, Homo) from East Asia. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaau0930. [PMID: 30746445 PMCID: PMC6357757 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau0930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Several human dental traits typical of modern humans appear to be associated with the prolonged period of development that is a key human attribute. Understanding when, and in which early hominins, these dental traits first appeared is thus of strong interest. Using x-ray multiresolution synchrotron phase-contrast microtomography, we quantify dental growth and development in an archaic Homo juvenile from the Xujiayao site in northern China dating to 161,000-224,000 years or 104,000-125,000 years before present. Despite the archaic morphology of Xujiayao hominins, most aspects of dental development of this juvenile fall within modern human ranges (e.g., prolonged crown formation time and delayed first molar eruption). For its estimated age-at-death (6.5 years), its state of dental development is comparable to that of equivalently aged modern children. These findings suggest that several facets of modern human dental growth and development evolved in East Asia before the appearance of fully modern human morphology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Song Xing
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Paul Tafforeau
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, CS-40220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 09, France
| | - Mackie O’Hara
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mario Modesto-Mata
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain
- Equipo Primeros Pobladores de Extremadura, Casa de la Cultura Rodríguez Moñino, Av. Cervantes s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
- Anthropology Department, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK
| | - Laura Martín-Francés
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain
- UMR 5189 PACEA Université de Bordeaux, CNRS MCC, Bordeaux, France
| | - María Martinón-Torres
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain
- Anthropology Department, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK
| | - Limin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Lynne A. Schepartz
- HVIRU, School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - José María Bermúdez de Castro
- Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain
- Anthropology Department, University College London, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW, UK
| | - Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Anthropology/Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NR, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Le Cabec A, Tang NK, Ruano Rubio V, Hillson S. Nondestructive adult age at death estimation: Visualizing cementum annulations in a known age historical human assemblage using synchrotron X-ray microtomography. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 168:25-44. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Le Cabec
- Department of Human Evolution; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Leipzig Germany
- ID19 Beamline; Structure of Materials Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility; Grenoble France
| | | | | | - Simon Hillson
- Institute of Archaeology; University College London; London United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
McGrath K, El‐Zaatari S, Guatelli‐Steinberg D, Stanton MA, Reid DJ, Stoinski TS, Cranfield MR, Mudakikwa A, McFarlin SC. Quantifying linear enamel hypoplasia in Virunga Mountain gorillas and other great apes. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 166:337-352. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kate McGrath
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of AnthropologyThe George Washington UniversityWashington DC 20052
| | - Sireen El‐Zaatari
- Department of Paleoanthropology, Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and PaleoenvironmentEberhard Karls Universität TübingenTübingen 72070 Germany
| | | | - Margaret A. Stanton
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of AnthropologyThe George Washington UniversityWashington DC 20052
| | - Donald J. Reid
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of AnthropologyThe George Washington UniversityWashington DC 20052
| | | | - Michael R. Cranfield
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary ProjectUniversity of California at Davis California 95616
| | - Antoine Mudakikwa
- Department of Tourism and ConservationRwanda Development BoardKigali Rwanda
| | - Shannon C. McFarlin
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of AnthropologyThe George Washington UniversityWashington DC 20052
- Division of MammalsNational Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian InstitutionWashington DC 20560
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mahoney P, Miszkiewicz JJ, Chapple S, Le Luyer M, Schlecht SH, Stewart TJ, Griffiths RA, Deter C, Guatelli‐Steinberg D. The biorhythm of human skeletal growth. J Anat 2018; 232:26-38. [PMID: 29023695 PMCID: PMC5735060 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence of a periodic biorhythm is retained in tooth enamel in the form of Retzius lines. The periodicity of Retzius lines (RP) correlates with body mass and the scheduling of life history events when compared between some mammalian species. The correlation has led to the development of the inter-specific Havers-Halberg oscillation (HHO) hypothesis, which holds great potential for studying aspects of a fossil species biology from teeth. Yet, our understanding of if, or how, the HHO relates to human skeletal growth is limited. The goal here is to explore associations between the biorhythm and two hard tissues that form at different times during human ontogeny, within the context of the HHO. First, we investigate the relationship of RP to permanent molar enamel thickness and the underlying daily rate that ameloblasts secrete enamel during childhood. Following this, we develop preliminary research conducted on small samples of adult human bone by testing associations between RP, adult femoral length (as a proxy for attained adult stature) and cortical osteocyte lacunae density (as a proxy for the rate of osteocyte proliferation). Results reveal RP is positively correlated with enamel thickness, negatively correlated with femoral length, but weakly associated with the rate of enamel secretion and osteocyte proliferation. These new data imply that a slower biorhythm predicts thicker enamel for children but shorter stature for adults. Our results develop the intra-specific HHO hypothesis suggesting that there is a common underlying systemic biorhythm that has a role in the final products of human enamel and bone growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Mahoney
- Human Osteology LabSkeletal Biology Research CentreSchool of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | - Justyna J. Miszkiewicz
- Skeletal Biology and Forensic Anthropology Research GroupSchool of Archaeology and AnthropologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Simon Chapple
- Human Osteology LabSkeletal Biology Research CentreSchool of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | - Mona Le Luyer
- Human Osteology LabSkeletal Biology Research CentreSchool of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
- De la Prehistoire à l'Actuel: CultureEnvironment et Anthropologie (UMR 5199 PACEA)Université de BordeauxPessacFrance
| | | | - Tahlia J. Stewart
- Skeletal Biology and Forensic Anthropology Research GroupSchool of Archaeology and AnthropologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraACTAustralia
| | - Richard A. Griffiths
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and EcologySchool of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | - Chris Deter
- Human Osteology LabSkeletal Biology Research CentreSchool of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | | |
Collapse
|