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The tells teeth tale

This undergraduate essay explores the significant role of teeth in studying human evolution. Authored by Tanya M. Smith, the academic paper delves into how teeth have contributed to evolutionary anthropology, particularly through their preservation in fossil records and their ability to reveal genetic information. Our college essay writer discusses three main themes: development, evolution, and human behavior, using teeth to trace the biological and cultural trajectories of human history.

September 18, 2024

* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.

Running head: THE TELLS TEETH TALE

The Tells Teeth Tale

Name

Institution

THE TELLS TEETH TALE 2

The Tells Teeth Tale by Tanya M. Smith

Tanya Smith narrates the beautiful tales of teeth to the readers and how they are related to

human evolution. For years teeth have played a significant role in evolutionary anthropology,

especially in the skeleton and skull carbon dating. Research has shown that teeth preserve better

fossils records and offer a more accurate picture of the underlying genome. Most of human

evolutionary history is generated from teeth. This paper will explore the three major themes of

development, evolution, and behavior, as explained by Smith.

Development

Smith explores the development theme by looking into the microscopic world of tooth

growth. The tooth world comprises of dentin and enamel. Dentin is made up of fibrous and tough

tissue found below the enamel. Enamel is the outer layer of teeth, which is hard due to the

various minerals such as Calcium (Smith, 2018). These two features of the tooth determine how

the teeth erupt, laid down, and how they will appear above the gums. Moreover, the two features

tell the biological markers when observed under the microscope.

Smith describes how the dark neonatal line present in dentin and enamel tells the accurate

age of an individual as it coincides with birthday. These exiting features are present in all

evolutionary groups, including modern humans and ancestors. Incremental lines found inside the

teeth are like annual rings in trees, which shows the growth rate of the tree (Smith, 2018). These

incremental line helps to tell the health and age of an individual. Smith explains how dental

microstructure tells the unique characteristics of human evolution, such as post-reproductive

lifespan and extended childhood.

THE TELLS TEETH TALE 3

Shockingly, Smith describes how dental anthropologists utilize microscopic information

to examine stress lines inside the teeth, which can tell when, and why a person stressed. The lines

can tell whether the individual experience psychological or physiological stress during the

growth process. Additionally, the teeth development theme dealt with how human eating habits

evolved and changed the structure of the tooth. For instance, change from ancient foods such as

nuts, meat, and fruits to highly processed sugary foods associated with various dental problems.

The foods human eats today have profoundly impacted periodontal disease, cavities, and wisdom

teeth.

Evolution

Evolution is the second theme that Smith tackles as she narrates the crucial stages that the

teeth go through. For decades evolutionary biologists’ question where the teeth originate. Some

have argued that the teeth erupt externally from the pointy cheeks scales closer to the lips. Others

have provided that the teeth originate internally from the pharynx structure (Smith, 2018). Smith

understands that when and how the teeth evolved is of significance implication in determining

whether it evolved once or severally.

Dental evolution takes place from single to multiple cusped, and finally, the ape-like

dental structure that modern humans possess. The apes had big and long teeth that moved

outwards from the jaws. The canines were long because they feed on raw meat before the

discovery of fire. However, the teeth pattern evolved into a reduction of the canine teeth as well

as small teeth to fit into the small jaws. This description relates to Charles Darwin's theory of

evolution, which described how man evolved from ape-like animals (Chimpanzees). Darwin

observed how the human skull and the jaws evolved to form the current structure.

THE TELLS TEETH TALE 4

Smith provides an interesting introduction to the evolution of teeth for the readers to

understand why and how their teeth are shaped the way they are. Tooth growth and development

is significant to the dental anthropologist. The author describes the microscopic lines present in

the teeth and how they tell dental anthropologists how slow or fast an organism has grown.

Moreover, the book narrates how the lines have helped to discover when the growth pattern of

the humankind evolution.

Typically, modern human growth and development curve is normal, which means that

growth is slow and take a long time. The curve shows that the juvenile dependence period is as

long as the adult life span, which is incomparable to any primate. These factors have raised

major debate in paleoanthropology concerning the growth of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals

(Smith, 2018). The big question is whether the two species experience slow or fast growth. The

author provides that H. sapiens growth rate was slower compared to Neanderthals. Readers got a

chance to view both sides of the story as the author gives an important discussion on the big

debate. Moreover, Smith discusses the reasons why anthropologists get confused with the mixed

signals generated from fossils records.

Human behavior

The third theme provides a dental description and perspective on human behaviors. The

theme focuses on behavior regarding the use of teeth as a tool, the diet, the teeth as a social

signal, and how humans have consciously and unconsciously modified their teeth. Human

behavior on tooth use is observed when examining tooth wear, stable isotope ratios, and ancient

DNA (Smith, 2018). Studying these topics tells the readers that there is still a hotly contested

debate on how it affects human behaviors.

THE TELLS TEETH TALE 5

Teeth evolution affected human behaviors, whether they lived in groups or in a

monogamous pair during the early times. Smith questioned whether the Neanderthal man

became extinct for lack of dietary breadth. However, the author went further to encourage

readers not to give up on their quest for knowledge coupled with open questions that arise during

her discussions. According to Smith, science is a growing knowledge that is continuously revised

and refined to create a fact. Science involves dropping an old hypothesis and adapt a new

concept which comes with newly founded knowledge.

The last chapter examines the future of dental research in developing human behaviors.

For instance, technology-enabled stem research to regrow possible lost teeth (Smith, 2018).

Advance technology is making humans transcend beyond their expectations or compared to

hundred years ago. Now humans mature earlier and live longer due to developed medical care

and a healthy lifestyle. Smith explains the human microbiome, which composes of trillions of

microorganisms that inhabit the human body and help to preserve dental tartar.

Conclusion

Tanya Smith’s Tales Teeth Tell is popular among the scientists as well as people who read

for the quest of knowledge. Smith explores major themes in her book, including development,

evolution, and human behavior. All three themes form the central concept, which Smith tries to

inform the readers. The book is insightful and discusses various topics that are woven together

into the three main themes. The author provides something which can be considered as the truth.

The knowledge contained in the book is of great value because, at the end of every chapter, she

provided a small summary of the main points discussed.

THE TELLS TEETH TALE 6

Reference

Smith, T. M. (2018). The Tales teeth tell: development, evolution, behavior. MIT Press.

September 18, 2024

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Academic level:

Undergraduate 3-4

Type of paper:

Essay

Discipline:

Anthropology

Citation:

APA

Pages:

5 (1375 words)