Human Enamel Can Shed Light on Species' Health History

Our teeth are a comprehensive source of our biological past. Their form, size, surface shape, and texture may tell scientists about the vast number of evolutional events in species history, such as population migration, diet, etc.

However, as it turned out, teeth contain even more crucial biological data. Recently, a group of researchers from the University of Alaska shared a study in which they examined proteins from human enamel and revealed a couple of them that "contained information" about the individual organism's health to which they belonged.

What did scientists research?

The paper authors examined two particular proteins :

• Immunoglobin G – a kind of antibody that fights pathogens.
• C-reactive protein – presented in the organism during inflammation reaction.

Considering that teeth form gradually – starting in utero and continuing during adolescence – such proteins accumulate in different "layers" of a formed tooth. The amount of presented proteins depends on events and conditions affecting human organisms in each mentioned period.

Additionally, protein compounds in enamels contain more information than in the human skeleton, where only some disorders leave faint biochemical traces. Moreover, tooth enamel degrades much more slowly than other tissues, saving these biomarkers for longer periods.

According to scientists, protein analysis may provide information about the bulk of physical diseases and some mental conditions like stress, making it possible to track ancient human timelines in detail. Besides the crucial impact on anthropology, such an approach may also help modern dentistry discover how different conditions and individual lifestyles affect teeth.