Articles tagged with Mandible
Researchers discovered a non-cancerous facial tumor in the fossilized jaw of Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a primitive duck-billed dinosaur, providing evidence that dinosaurs were prone to tumors. The discovery sheds new light on ancient diseases and tumours in extinct species.
The OPPERA study reveals that jaw injuries are strongly associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD), with increased incidence rates found for extrinsic events, sustained mouth opening, and yawning. Single injuries were sufficient to increase risk of developing painful TMD.
A new species of goby, the Godzilla goby, has been discovered in the southern Caribbean by the Smithsonian Institution's Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP). The fish features bright yellow and orange colors, a large head, and unique dental structure.
Cretaceous fossils provide insights into the early diversification of ants, with some species exhibiting advanced social behavior. The discovery of Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri highlights the importance of morphological specializations in ant evolution.
Researchers found that carnivorous bats evolved distinctive skull shapes and strong bite forces to consume vertebrate prey. Larger animal-munching bats had longer snouts for bigger prey, while fish-eating bats had optimized jaws for a narrow gape to break down sharp bones.
Researchers have discovered a remarkable new species of marine reptile that lived during the Triassic Period. Atopodentatus unicus was an herbivore with a hammerhead-shaped jaw apparatus and used its teeth to filter-feed on plants from the ocean floor.
Scientists reveal new insights into a crocodile-sized sea-dwelling reptile that lived 242 million years ago in southern China. The 'hammerhead' creature, Atopodentatus unicus, used its unique jaw to scrape and filter-feed on plants from the ocean floor.
Researchers have uncovered the first confirmed report of tadpoles from the Indian Dancing frog family, revealing unique adaptations such as muscular eel-like bodies and skin-covered eyes. These findings provide valuable information for conservation of ancient and endemic frogs in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
The American Association of Anatomists awards Young Investigators for groundbreaking research in cell biology, neuroanatomy, and morphological sciences. The winners, including Michael Jenkins, Andrew Holland, Casey Holliday, and Hillel Adesnik, are recognized for their contributions to the field and will present lectures on their work.
Using 3D bioprinting, Griffith University researchers are developing a new method to replace missing teeth and bone using totally bespoke tissue engineered components. The approach aims to reduce the risks of complications and provide a more invasive-free alternative.
A study by Kansas State University researcher Lester Loschky suggests that film viewers' eye movements are separate from their understanding of the film. Despite this, subtle differences in eye movements were found between those who had context and those who didn't, indicating a high degree of attentional synchrony.
Researchers analyze Kolponomos fossils and compare them to those of Smilodon, finding similarities in jaw structure suitable for anchoring against prey. The study suggests that Kolponomos may have used an anchor-biting strategy to pry hard-shelled invertebrates from rocks.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that Australopithecus sediba, a possible early human ancestor, had a significant limitation in its ability to bite powerfully. The team used biomechanical testing and computer modeling to demonstrate that biting too hard would have dislocated the jaw of this species.
A new study reveals that Australopithecus sediba did not have a jaw structure suitable for eating hard foods, contradicting earlier research. The discovery suggests that dietary changes played a significant role in shaping the evolution of early humans.
Researchers have successfully multiplied teeth in mice by splitting tooth germ cells and implanting them into the jaw. This discovery could lead to new treatments for people born with missing teeth or who lose teeth due to accidents or disease.
A species of trap-jaw ant has been found to exhibit a previously unseen jumping behavior, using its legs rather than its powerful jaws. This species, Odontomachus rixosus, is the only known ant that can jump with either its legs or mandibles.
A new analysis of the jaw of Haramiyavia clemmenseni clarifies the timeline of early mammalian evolution. The study found complex teeth and chewing motions adapted for an herbivorous diet, indicating diverse feeding adaptations evolved early among proto-mammal lineages.
Researchers from the University of Oxford discovered a 170-million-year-old fossil on the Isle of Skye that challenges the existence of three previously recognized species. The find reveals that the three species are actually one, with differences in tooth shape being present in the single lower jaw found on the Isle of Skye.
Researchers found that cockroaches activate slow twitch muscle fibers only when chewing on tough material, generating a bite force of up to 50 times stronger than their body weight. This unique ability allows them to efficiently exert powerful forces with minimal head volume required.
Research found that theropod dinosaurs like T. rex and Allosaurus could open their jaws wide due to their powerful muscles, while herbivorous Erlikosaurus had limited jaw movement. This study provides new insights into the relationship between dinosaur diet and jaw musculature.
Researchers have discovered that ancient elasmosaurs, such as Aristonectes and Morturneria, used a comb-like structure in their jaws to strain out food particles from the water. This unique feeding style is similar to that of modern baleen whales and allows for efficient collection of food particles.
A team of researchers discovered that fishes' jaw protrusion ability is a relatively new trait, appearing only in the last 100 million years of their 400-million-year history. This finding suggests that the evolution of jaw protrusion played a crucial role in the success of spiny-rayed fishes.
Scientists have discovered a new species of the marine mammal group Desmostylia, which went extinct 23 million years ago. The new fossils reveal that desmos were unique in their diet and eating habits, using powerful muscles to suck vegetation from coastal bottoms.
Smithsonian scientists have discovered a new genus and species of river dolphin, Isthminia panamensis, from a fossil specimen found in Panama. The ancient creature is estimated to be around 9 feet long and lived in the salty waters of a Caribbean Sea before the full closure of the Panama Isthmus.
Researchers are developing 3D-printed biodegradable polymer scaffolds to accelerate bone growth in head and neck injuries. The technology has the potential to produce mechanically strong replaced bone with minimal inflammation and within a short healing period.
A study by Iowa State University found that activity trackers are less accurate when measuring strength training, with some monitors overestimating calories burned. The BodyMedia Core was the most accurate tracker, while the Misfit Shine was the least, with error rates of 15.3% and 30.4%, respectively.
A new study using facial motion capture technology identifies distinct differences between children with childhood apraxia of speech and those with other speech disorders. The research found that children with apraxia of speech exhibited greater variability in lip and jaw movements, indicating a lack of control.
A tiny tooth plate fossil, dated to over 40 years of neglect, has revealed new insights into the earliest origins of teeth in vertebrates. The study's findings suggest that teeth evolved from body scales in primitive fishes, pushing back their origin on the evolutionary tree.
A 40,000-year-old jawbone discovered in Europe has revealed that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals after their arrival in the continent. The study, led by HHMI investigator David Reich, found that six to nine percent of the individual's genome is from Neanderthals, indicating a recent ancestry.
Researchers created a visual atlas and dictionary of terms for camel spider jaws, revealing a single evolutionary origin of the flagellum. The flagellum plays a crucial role in reproduction and is found on the jaws of adult males in most species.
A new human ancestor species, Australopithecus deyiremeda, has been discovered in Ethiopia that lived alongside Lucy's species. The species differs from Lucy's in terms of its thick-enamelled teeth and lower jaw architecture.
Researchers found that trap-jaw ants use their spring-loaded mandibles to jump out of harm's way when an ant-trapping predator stalks, doubling their survival rate. The study verifies that the mandibles aid the ants' survival by allowing them to eject themselves from a dangerous predicament.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that trap-jaw ants use their spring-loaded mandibles to jump out of harm's way when threatened by an antlion. This behavior increases the ants' survival rate, with 15% of encounters resulting in escape.
Research by Tel Aviv University finds that social anxiety elevates the risk of bruxism, a condition causing tooth wear and fractures. The study also found moderate-to-severe dental wear in 42.1% of socially anxious individuals.
The eardrum evolved independently in mammals and diapsids, depending on lower jaw formation in mammals and upper jaw development in diapsids. The study used developmental biology techniques to overcome the lack of fossil evidence for eardrum evolution.
University of Iowa researchers found that human chins are an evolutionary adaptation, emerging as faces became smaller. The study suggests that mechanical forces like chewing did not create the chin, but rather a geometric change in face shape led to its development.
Researchers have discovered that the skull of a Daspletosaurus, a large tyrannosaurine dinosaur, suffered numerous injuries during life and also after death. The injuries included bites that healed, as well as those inflicted after death by another tyrannosaur, indicating evidence of combat between two large carnivores.
Researchers have discovered two ancient human fossils in Laos that show early modern humans were physically quite diverse, with one jawbone exhibiting both archaic and modern human traits. The discovery adds to the evidence that early modern humans migrated through Southeast Asia earlier than previously thought.
A team of researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge created a 3D reconstruction of the skull of Acanthostega gunnari, a 360 million-year-old near-ancestor of land vertebrates. The new reconstruction shows that early tetrapods had more modern-like crocodile skulls than previously thought, with surprising results.
A 360-million-year-old tetrapod's skull has been reconstructed using high-resolution X-ray CT scanning, revealing a more crocodile-like structure than previously thought. The study sheds new light on the anatomy and ecology of early tetrapods, including their feeding habits and adaptations for life on land.
A fossil lower jaw found in Ethiopia pushes back the human genus evidence to 2.8 million years ago, providing clues to changes in the jaw and teeth of early Homo species. The discovery helps narrow the evolutionary gap between Australopithecus and early Homo.
A study of 292 ancient skeletons reveals that malocclusion and dental crowding emerged among European farmers around 12,000 years ago. The shift from a hunter-gatherer diet to agriculture led to changes in jaw shape and tooth structure.
A University of Bristol undergraduate has uncovered the feeding habits of an ancient fish, Dapedium, which was well-adapted to crush shells. The study reveals that Dapedium's jaws moved slowly but strongly to work on hard-shelled prey, similar to modern sea breams.
Researchers identified increased risk of jaw bone disease in patients taking osteoporosis medications, anticancer drugs, or glucocorticoids. Prevention strategies include good oral hygiene, antibiotics, and surgical treatments to protect at-risk individuals.
The tiger beetle is the fastest creature on Earth, but its speed-related vision issues compromise its ability to catch prey. Researchers have discovered that the beetle opens and closes its mandibles in response to visual cues, such as the perceived size of its target.
The fossilized skull of Vintana sertichi, a 66- to 70-million-year-old groundhog-like creature, offers significant insights into the lifestyle and relationships of early mammals. The analysis reveals that Vintana likely had large eyes, a good sense of smell, and could eat a diet of roots, seeds, or nut-like fruits.
A study reveals key details of prehistoric marine croc group Machimosaurus, showing adaptations for various habitats similar to modern-day crocodiles. The ancient species varied in body length and features, with some living in open seas and others in coastal environments.
Researchers have created a smart material-based chin strap that generates electricity from chewing, eating and talking, with potential to power hearing aids, cochlear implants and other small electronic devices. The device harnesses piezoelectric fiber composites to convert mechanical stress into electric charge.
Researchers analyze 13 wearable activity monitors to determine their effectiveness in promoting healthy behaviors. While many apps are in line with health community recommendations, some lack key features such as action planning and problem-solving tools.
Scientists have named an extinct swamp-dwelling creature after Mick Jagger due to its oversized lips. The Jaggermeryx naida fossils, found in Egypt's desert, belonged to a family of ancient hoofed animals called anthracotheres.
Early Jurassic mammals in Wales developed specialized diets, with some favoring harder food like beetles and others softer foods like scorpion flies. This discovery suggests that competition drove the evolution of unique mammalian features, such as precise chewing and better hearing.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new light-sensitive protein called Jaws that allows for non-invasive brain control using a light source outside the skull. This breakthrough enables long-term studies without implanted light sources, paving the way for potential treatments of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
A recent study on Sima de los Huesos fossils in northern Spain confirms the mosaic evolution pattern of Neandertal skull development. The analysis reveals homogeneity among the fossil sample, allowing researchers to study individual variation and growth patterns, shedding light on human evolution during the Middle Pleistocene.
Researchers discovered that trap-jaw ant species are expanding their territory in the southeastern United States. The study identified two new species, O. haematodus and O. ruginodis, which have spread across the Gulf Coast region, including Florida and Alabama.
The discovery of fossilized fish specimens from the Cambrian period sheds new light on the evolution of vertebrates. The fossils show pairs of exceptionally well-preserved arches near the front of their body, which led to the evolution of jaws in vertebrates.
Researchers used a tracing technique in mice to map the brain circuitry controlling chewing movements. They found shared premotor neurons connecting to multiple motoneurons regulating jaw and tongue movements, suggesting a simple coordination method for safe mealtime.
A recent study by evolutionary biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that a mutation in a single gene during development can lead to different consequences, including changes in jaw shape and feeding strategies. This genetic variation predicts differences in feeding mechanics and alters skull structure.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified the genetic mutations underlying ameloblastoma, a rare type of jaw tumor. They found that drugs already approved for other cancers can be effective in treating this disease, and are planning a pilot study to assess their efficacy.
A Case Western Reserve University student and his mentor have discovered an ancient kitten-sized predator that lived in Bolivia about 13 million years ago. The animal would have been about the size of a marten and probably filled the same ecological niche as larger sparassodonts.
A Finnish team of researchers identified a gene mutation in ameloblastoma, a tumour of the jaw. The discovery could lead to a targeted drug therapy reducing surgery and recurrence rates.