Project

Outside in or inside out? Exploring the evolutionary origin of vertebrate teeth

Code
01J05815
Duration
01 September 2015 → 30 September 2022
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Animal biology
    • Genetics
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Dentistry
    • Dentistry
    • Dentistry
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Veterinary medicine
Keywords
pharyngeal pouches zebrafish teeth ectoderm endoderm odontodes gill slits
 
Project description

We propose that vertebrate teeth evolutionarily arose where outpocketings of the endoderm-lined pharynx (pouches), contacted the ectoderm-lined skin to form gill slits. Using zebrafish, we will test the correlation between tooth and gill slit formation, reveal the extent of ectoderm and endoderm in pouches and gill slits, and test the requirement for endoderm and ectoderm in tooth formation.