Fish Scales to Fangs: Surprising Tale of How Teeth Got Their Bite

The origins of the enamel that gives our teeth their bite is no ordinary fish tale. Scientists said on Wednesday fossil and genetic evidence indicates enamel did not originate in the teeth, but rather in the scales of ancient fish that lived more than 400 million years ago, and only later became a key component in teeth. Enamel is the hardest tissue produced in the bodies of people and other vertebrates, but scientists have been uncertain about its beginnings. The researchers...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mercredi 23 septembre 2015