Genetic integration of molar cusp size variation in baboons

Bibliographic Data

ID8316016
AuthorsChristina Koh, Christina Y Koh (University of California, Berkeley), Elizabeth Bates (0000-0001-8694-8078), Elizabeth J Bates (University of California, Berkeley), Elizabeth Broughton (University of Washington), Nicholas T Do, T Nicholas (0000-0002-2176-0530, Dartmouth College), Zachary Fletcher (Baxter (United States)), Michael C Mahaney (0000-0002-1341-3950, Texas Biomedical Research Institute), Leslea J Hlusko (0000-0003-0189-6390, University of California, Berkeley, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume142
Issue2
Pages246-260
Publication date2010-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.21221
PMID20034010
PMCIDPMC2914092
OpenAlexW1998137763
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited81

Many studies of primate diversity and evolution rely on dental morphology for insight into diet, behavior, and phylogenetic relationships. Consequently, variation in molar cusp size has increasingly become a phenotype of interest. In 2007 we published a quantitative genetic analysis of mandibular molar cusp size variation in baboons. Those results provided more questions than answers, as the pattern of genetic integration did not fit predictions from odontogenesis. To follow up, we expanded our study to include data from the maxillary molar cusps. Here we report on these later analyses, as well as inter‐arch comparisons with the mandibular data. We analyzed variation in two‐dimensional maxillary molar cusp size using data collected from a captive pedigreed breeding colony of baboons, Papio hamadryas , housed at the Southwest National Primate Research Center. These analyses show that variation in maxillary molar cusp size is heritable and sexually dimorphic. We also estimated additive genetic correlations between cusps on the same crown, homologous cusps along the tooth row, and maxillary and mandibular cusps. The pattern for maxillary molars yields genetic correlations of one between the paracone–metacone and protocone–hypocone. Bivariate analyses of cuspal homologues on adjacent teeth yield correlations that are high or not significantly different from one. Between dental arcades, the nonoccluding cusps consistently yield high genetic correlations, especially the metaconid–paracone and metaconid–metacone. This pattern of genetic correlation does not immediately accord with the pattern of development and/or calcification, however these results do follow predictions that can be made from the evolutionary history of the tribosphenic molar. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Biology · Cusp (singularity) · Evolutionary biology · Genetic variation · Geometry · Molar · Primate · Zoology · Amphibian and Reptile Biology · dental development and anomalies · Ecology · Genetics · Mathematics · Medicine · Orthodontics · Paleontology · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation