Deletion/loss of bone morphogenetic protein 7 changes tooth morphology and function in Mus musculus: implications for dental evolution in mammals.

ABSTRACT: Quantifying regulatory gene effects on dental morphology and function has implications for the underlying mechanisms that generated dental diversity in mammals. We tested the hypothesis that regulatory gene expression changes lead to differences in molars using a neural crest knockout of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) in Mus musculus. Three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods were used to quantify the shape of the molar toothrow. BMP7 mutants have extra cusps on the first upper and lower molars, and alterations in cusp orientation and morphology. Furthermore, significant shape differences between control and mutant were found for upper and lower toothrows. Mutant mice also exhibited differences in attrition facets, indicating functional changes that could lead to advanta

SUBMITTER: Zurowski C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5792877 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature