Biologists find gene network that gave rise to first tooth
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 04:42
in Biology & Nature
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have identified a set of genes that they believe was responsible for forming the first teeth in vertebrates. This gene network, (including the genes shh, pitx2 bmp2, bmp4, dlx2, runx2, eda and edar) is believed to have been responsible for the formation of teeth in the throat of the first jawless fish half a billion years ago and are still responsible for the development of teeth in the jaws of all animals today. The research appears online in the journal PLoS Biology beginning 10 February...