Variation in Modern Human Deciduous Molar Enamel Formation Time.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Histologically derived deciduous molar enamel formation times hold great potential for accessing information about the prenatal and postnatal ontogeny of juvenile fossil hominins. Yet our understanding of these formation times in modern humans is limited which inhibits comparative analyses. Here we utilize histology to investigate geographic and temporal variation in prenatal, postnatal, and total enamel cusp formation times among modern humans. We examine some of the processes whereby differences in formation time can arise by considering the underlying rate at which enamel forms and the average amount of enamel that is produced.

Samples and methods

Longitudinal thin sections of n = 356 deciduous first and second deciduous molars were selected from eight populati

SUBMITTER: Mahoney P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12616781 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature