Anthropological Perspectives on Tooth Morphology: Genetics, Evolution, Variation

Description

Researchers have long had an interest in dental morphology as a genetic proxy to reconstruct population history. Much interest was fostered by the use of standard plaques and associated descriptions that comprise the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System, developed by Christy G. Turner, II and students. This system has served as the foundation for hundreds of anthropological studies for over 30 years. In recognition of that success, this volume brings together some of the world's leading dental morphologists to expand upon the concepts and methods presented in the popular The Anthropology of Modern Human Teeth (Cambridge, 1997), leading the reader from method to applied research. After a preparatory section on the current knowledge of heritability and gene expression, a series of case studies demonstrate the utility of dental morphological study in both fossil and more recent populations (and individuals), from local to global scales.

G. Richard Scott is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and is currently Associate Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He co-authored The Anthropology of Modern Human Teeth with Christy G. Turner, II (Cambridge, 1997). Joel D. Irish is a Professor and Chair of the Anthropology Department, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. He has co-edited three volumes, was Associate Editor of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology and has over 60 biological anthropology publications, with an emphasis on dental morphology.

'All in all, this book provides useful contributions to the anthropological perspective on variation in tooth crown morphology, which is in keeping with the editors' aim to provide a Festschrift to Christy G. Turner, II.' Frederick E. Grine, The Quarterly Review of Biology