Epithelial topography for repetitive tooth formation

In an article published on the Biology Open website, Professor Abigail Tucker of the Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Division investigates epithelial topography for repetitive tooth formation.

Humans, like most mammals, have three molars at the back of the mouth in each part of the jaw. These three molars develop at the back of the mouth from a single tooth placode. Each new molar initiates from tissue at the back of the previous tooth forming a chain of molar teeth. In this paper we investigate the cellular and molecular events involved in this process using the developing mouse molars as a model. We follow the patterns of cell division, cell movement and cell shape and the corresponding patterns of expression of stem cell and progenitor cells markers to create a picture of how this reiterative process of tooth formation occurs. Problems in this process are likely to result in a failure of tooth formation and loss of teeth at the back of the mouth.

Read the full article on the Biology Open website: http://bio.biologists.org/content/early/2015/10/31/bio.013672.long

A morphed movie showing the formation of three molars from a single molar placode in the mouse, over a seven day period can be viewed on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/aIh20i73XZ8