Kathleen S. Paul’s research while affiliated with University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and other places

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Publications (43)


Morphological variation of Lake Ladoga seal molars following predictions of the patterning cascade model of crown morphogenesis as outlined by Jernvall [116]
Image adapted from Jernvall & Jung [131] with permission (License number: 5642721412793). © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intercusp distance expectations among early-developing cusps when a late-developing accessory cusps is present
Circles mark cusp tip position and the size of the circle corresponds to sequence of cusp development (the larger the circle, the earlier the cusp develops). Distances marked by a red dashed line indicate intercusp distances expected to be shorter when the accessory cusp is present. Distances shown with a dashed blue line illustrate intercusp distances expected to be longer when the accessory cusp is present.
Lower molar accessory cusp frequencies in the study sample
Relative intercusp distances that play an important role in shaping accessory cusp expression in deciduous molars and both permanent antimeres
Red arrows pointing toward each other indicate a negative relationship between intercusp distance and morphological trait expression. Blue arrows pointing away from each other signal a positive relationship between intercusp distance and morphological trait expression.
Results of metameric and antimeric comparative analyses for occlusal surface area, ASUDAS morphology, and RICD

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Evaluating predictions of the patterning cascade model of crown morphogenesis in the human lower mixed and permanent dentition
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June 2024

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85 Reads

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1 Citation

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Kathleen S. Paul

Objective The patterning cascade model of crown morphogenesis has been studied extensively in a variety of organisms to elucidate the evolutionary history surrounding postcanine tooth form. The current research is the first to use a large modern human sample to examine whether the crown configuration of lower deciduous and permanent molars aligns with expectations derived from the model. This study has two main goals: 1) to determine if metameric and antimeric pairs significantly differ in size, accessory trait expression, and relative intercusp spacing, and 2) assess whether the relative distance among early-forming cusps accounts for observed variation in accessory cusp expression. Methods Tooth size, intercusp distance, and morphological trait expression data were collected from 3D scans of mandibular dental casts representing participants of the Harvard Solomon Islands Project. Paired tests were utilized to compare tooth size, accessory trait expression, and relative intercusp distance between diphyodont metameres and permanent antimeres. Proportional odds logistic regression was implemented to investigate how the odds of greater accessory cusp expression vary as a function of the distance between early-developing cusps. Results/Significance Comparing paired molars, significant differences were identified for tooth size and cusp 5 expression. Several relative intercusp distances emerged as important predictors of cusp 6 expression, however, results for cusp 5 and cusp 7 did not match expected patterns. These findings support previous quantitative genetic results and suggest the development of neighboring crown structures represents a zero-sum partitioning of cellular territory and resources. As such, this study contributes to a better understanding of the foundations of deciduous and permanent molar crown variation in humans.

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Schematic of early development, outlining the expected timing of developmental events and associated embryonic structures. Color overlays correspond to the proposed timing of monozygotic (MZ) twining events (i.e., division), with associated twin type based on placenta and amniotic cavity configuration indicated. The dashed overlay corresponds to the proposed window of MZ twining events that result in mirror image twins. Modified from Hall (2001) with permission of Elsevier Science (Copyright Elsevier).
Imperfect RA/mirroring of deciduous mandibular first molar morphology highlighted on three‐dimensional scans of monozygotic twin dentitions: twin A (KP 203) and twin B (KP 204). The m1s are enclosed in boxes alongside close‐ups of their crowns without filter (grayscale) and with curvature filter to highlight crown topography (color). In the non‐filtered scans, cusp 5 (hypoconulid) is highlighted in yellow to visualize the mirrored expression of this trait.
Birthweight data for the pairs flagged as potential mirror image twins (MITs). (a) Raw individual birthweight for cotwin A and cotwin B of each pair (female pairs = purple, male pairs = blue). (b) Birthweight discordance for each pair plotted as raw difference in kilograms (“kg”, gray bars) and relative difference (“rel”, black bars). The latter was calculated as difference in birthweight divided by weight of the larger twin following Hack et al. (2009). The gray dashed lines indicate the average raw birthweight discordance for monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) participants of the University of Adelaide Twin Study for whom data are digitally curated, including all of Cohort 1 and a portion of Cohort 2 (Toby Hughes, personal communication). The red dashed lines indicate Hack et al.'s (2009) reported median relative birthweight discordance for monochorionic monoamniotic twin pairs (MA) and the commonly accepted cut‐off for “severe” percent discordance (SD).
Mirror, mirror? An evaluation of identical twin mirroring in tooth crown morphology

February 2024

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58 Reads

It has been estimated that 25% of monozygotic (“identical”) twin pairs exhibit reverse asymmetry (RA) or “mirroring” of minor anatomical features as a result of delayed zygote division. Here, we examine whether identical twin mirroring accounts for patterns of dental asymmetry in a sample of monozygotic and dizygotic (“fraternal”) twins. We focus on crown morphology to approach the following question: is there an association between dental RA frequency and twin type suggestive of the presence of mirror image twins in our sample? Data were collected from 208 deciduous and 196 permanent dentitions of participants of the University of Adelaide Twin Study using Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System standards. RA frequencies were compared across morphological complexes (deciduous, permanent), twin types (monozygotic, dizygotic), and traits. Fisher's exact tests were performed to formally evaluate the association between twin type and dental RA. Across the entire dataset, RA rates failed to exceed 8% for any twin type. In monozygotic twins, deciduous mirroring totaled 5.3% of observed cases, while permanent mirroring totaled 7.8% of observed cases. We found no statistically significant association between RA and twin type for any morphological character (p‐value range: 0.07–1.00). Our results suggest the timing of monozygotic twin division does not explain the structure of asymmetry for our morphology dataset and that published estimates of identical twin mirroring rates may be inflated or contingent upon phenotype. Instead, rates reported for this sample more closely align with the proposed etiology of this condition.



Evaluating the patterning cascade model of tooth morphogenesis in the human lower mixed and permanent dentition

October 2023

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36 Reads

Objective The patterning cascade model of crown morphogenesis has been studied extensively in a variety of organisms to elucidate the evolutionary history surrounding postcanine tooth form. The current research examines the degree to which model expectations are reflected in the crown configuration of lower deciduous and permanent molars in a modern human sample. This study has two main goals: 1) to determine if metameric and antimeric pairs significantly differ in size, accessory trait expression, and relative intercusp spacing, and 2) to establish if the relative distance among early-forming cusps accounts for observed variation in accessory cusp expression. Methods Tooth size, intercusp distance, and morphological trait expression data were collected from 3D scans of mandibular dental casts representing 124 individual participants of the Harvard Solomon Islands Project. Paired tests were utilized to compare tooth size, accessory trait expression, and relative intercusp distance between diphyodont metameres and permanent antimeres. Proportional odds logistic regression was implemented to investigate how the likelihood of accessory cusp formation varies as a function of the distance between early-developing cusps. Results/Significance For paired molars, results indicated significant discrepancies in tooth size and cusp 5 expression, but not cusp 6 and cusp 7 expression. Several relative intercusp distances emerged as important predictors of accessory cusp expression. These findings support previous quantitative genetic results and suggest the development of neighboring crown structures represents a zero-sum partitioning of cellular territory and resources. As such, this study contributes to a better understanding of the evolution of deciduous and permanent molar crown configuration in humans.



Relationships between Dental Topography, Gross Wear, and Bang and Ramm/Liversidge and Molleson Age Estimates for a Sample of Human Premolar Teeth

March 2023

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63 Reads

Acta Stomatologica Croatica

Grace Roberts

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Kathleen S. Paul

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Anderson T. Hara

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Objectives: Molar crown wear is often used in bioarchaeological research as a proxy for age at death. However, a small number of researchers have used premolars or compared the application of different methods of relative age estimation. Material and methods: Using a sample of 197 previously extracted maxillary first premolars from US dental patients, we considered three protocols for estimating age: the Bang and Ramm/Liversidge and Molleson (BRLM) age estimate method, occlusal topographic analysis, and the Smith system of macrowear scoring. A previous study utilizing the Bang and Ramm method yielded an age estimate range of 9.4 to 10.8 years for the sample. Results: Our analyses showed no associations between occlusal topography parameters (occlusal slope, relief, or faceting) and BRLM age estimates, but some concordance was found between Smith scoring and BRLM ages estimates and between Smith scoring and occlusal topography parameters. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that relationships between gross tooth wear, tooth shape, and dental age estimates are complex, and available methods should be considered together to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how teeth change their shape with wear throughout the lifecourse.


Integrating genealogy and dental variation: contributions to biological anthropology

December 2022

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81 Reads

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3 Citations

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Genealogical samples that couple dental data and documented relatedness information provide unique opportunities to examine the biological foundations of tooth variation. Over the past century, these resources have been critical for examining the various factors that influence dental phenotypes—the same traits that anthropologists regularly apply to reconstructions of past phenomena. Genealogical samples are uniquely suited to test long‐standing assumptions underlying bioanthropological practice, for example, biodistance and phylogenetic analysis, which commonly reference aspects of tooth size and form as proxies for latent genetic information. This article provides an overview of published genealogical research, with a focus on the practical implications of quantitative genetic and environmental studies of (non)human primate dentitions. To highlight the utility of genealogical samples for understanding the influence of specific non‐genetic factors on dental characters, we also present novel data on gestational hormone effects in opposite‐sex dizygotic twin pairs as a test of the twin testosterone transfer (TTT) hypothesis. This article discusses fruitful next steps in genealogical dental research, as well as important ethical considerations surrounding the use of associated datasets, which are sensitive in nature. As we forge ahead in an age of phenomics, genealogical samples are likely to play a key role in generating comprehensive genotype–phenotype maps of the dentition and in refining bioanthropological methods.


Morphological crown traits for UAT data collection.
Genetic Correlation, Pleiotropy, and Molar Morphology in a Longitudinal Sample of Australian Twins and Families

June 2022

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113 Reads

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9 Citations

Genes

This study aims to expand our understanding of the genetic architecture of crown morphology in the human diphyodont dentition. Here, we present bivariate genetic correlation estimates for deciduous and permanent molar traits and evaluate the patterns of pleiotropy within (e.g., m1–m2) and between (e.g., m2–M1) dentitions. Morphology was observed and scored from dental models representing participants of an Australian twin and family study (deciduous n = 290, permanent n = 339). Data collection followed Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System standards. Genetic correlation estimates were generated using maximum likelihood variance components analysis in SOLAR v.8.1.1. Approximately 23% of deciduous variance components models and 30% of permanent variance components models yielded significant genetic correlation estimates. By comparison, over half (56%) of deciduous–permanent homologues (e.g., m2 hypocone–M1 hypocone) were significantly genetically correlated. It is generally assumed that the deciduous and permanent molars represent members of a meristic molar field emerging from the primary dental lamina. However, stronger genetic integration among m2–M1/M2 homologues than among paired deciduous traits suggests the m2 represents the anterior-most member of a “true” molar field. The results indicate genetic factors act at distinct points throughout development to generate homologous molar form, starting with the m2, which is later replaced by a permanent premolariform crown.



The genetic architecture of anterior tooth morphology in a longitudinal sample of Australian twins and families

June 2021

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51 Reads

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8 Citations

Archives of Oral Biology

Objective This study presents a quantitative genetic analysis of human anterior dental morphology in a longitudinal sample of known genealogy. The primary aim of this work is to generate a suite of genetic correlations within and between deciduous and permanent characters to access patterns of integration across the diphyodont dental complex. Design Data were recorded from casted tooth crowns representing participants of a long-term Australian twin and family study (deciduous n = 290, permanent n = 339). Morphological trait expression was observed and scored following Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System standards. Bivariate genetic correlations were estimated using maximum likelihood variance decomposition models in SOLAR v.8.1.1. Results Genetic correlation estimates indicate high levels of integration between antimeres but low to moderate levels among traits within a tooth row. Only 9% of deciduous model comparisons were significant, while pleiotropy was indicated for one third of permanent trait pairs. Canine characters stood out as strongly integrated, especially in the deciduous dentition. For homologous characters across dentitions (e.g., deciduous i¹ shoveling and permanent I¹ shoveling), ∼70% of model comparisons yielded significant genetic correlations. Conclusions Patterns of genetic correlation suggest a morphological canine module that spans the primary and secondary dentition. Results also point to the existence of a genetic mechanism conserving morphology across the diphyodont dental complex, such that paired deciduous and permanent traits are more strongly integrated than characters within individual tooth rows/teeth.


Citations (22)


... Specifically, the evaluated intermaxillary (IM) and inter-canine (IC) distance as well as palatal vault height (PVH) differed between males and females, with males exhibiting larger readings. This was also consistent with previous research, which indicated the presence of sex-specific anatomical differences in both general and dental arch dimensions, especially where males tend to have larger measurements due to skeletal and dental developmental disparities in response to hormonal factors and genetic predispositions that affect bone and cartilage development [16,17]. ...

Reference:

Evaluation of the Palatal Features in Relation to Graft Harvesting in the Saudi Population
Integrating genealogy and dental variation: contributions to biological anthropology
  • Citing Article
  • December 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

... Para Soda et al.(22) , o diagnóstico e o plano de tratamento em Odontopediatria são de extrema importância antes de iniciar qualquer tipo de procedimento. Na Odontopediatria, o diagnóstico é complexo devido à dificuldade de obtenção acurada do histórico dental do paciente ou da confiabilidade das informações obtidas da criança(23) . Neste caso clínico a responsável da paciente respondeu a anamnese para colaborar com o fechamento do diagnóstico, necessitando de tratamento endodôntico. ...

Genetic Correlation, Pleiotropy, and Molar Morphology in a Longitudinal Sample of Australian Twins and Families

Genes

... Besides the morphological diversity that derives directly from the biological variation of the first populations that occupied the American continents, several factors helped to shape and structure the morphological characteristics of Native American populations across space and time. As mentioned previously, it is hard to define a homogeneous morphological type for native populations in North, Central, or South America (despite the common practice of grouping these populations together; see Menéndez et al., 2022, for a discussion about this topic). Besides the genetic background of native populations, environmental and cultural factors also shape significant portions of the morphological diversity of these populations. ...

Towards an interdisciplinary perspective for the study of human expansions and biocultural diversity in the Americas

Evolutionary Anthropology Issues News and Reviews

... Teeth are relevant as well in that they show a development progress that is much shorter than what is observed in the rest of the skeleton, with most of the key features of dental crown morphology fully developed in the first years of life of a person. Teeth are considered to be highly non-responsive to environmental stimuli and tend to show high heritability values (Dempsey & Townsend, 2001;Paul et al., 2021; but see discussions about different factors affecting tooth mor-phology in Hlusko et al., 2018). Despite their high heritability, teeth show considerable morphological variation, with many different genetically controlled phenotypes known in humans, including accessory cusps, variations in crown and root shapes, tissue thickness, among others. ...

The genetic architecture of anterior tooth morphology in a longitudinal sample of Australian twins and families
  • Citing Article
  • June 2021

Archives of Oral Biology

... The adult frontal bone from Kosenivka (individual 5/6/+, constitutes the second published case of cribra orbitalia in a CTS assemblage, showing that biological stress reflected as an increased demand for red blood cells was an issue in Trypillia times too). Enamel hypoplasia, whose solely stress-caused aetiology has recently been challenged [187], was not observed on the three teeth. The advanced dental wear is a limiting factor in establishing the presence of enamel hypoplasia, especially for those defects developed early in life. ...

Heterogeneous frailty and the expression of linear enamel hypoplasia in a genealogical population
  • Citing Article
  • April 2021

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

... Using similarities in skeletal and dental metric and nonmetric traits as proxies for genetic affinity, researchers can infer potential kinship relationships within the cemetery population (Alt and Vach 1998;Ensor et al. 2017). Numerous validation studies have affirmed and refined the utility of these proxy measures of genetic variability by confirming heritability of cranial and dental traits and examining the extent to which they are heritable among modern individuals of known biological affiliations (e.g., Irish et al. 2020;Monson, Fecker, and Scherrer 2020;Paul and Stojanowski 2017;Paul et al. 2020;Rathmann et al. 2017;Rathmann and Reyes-Centeno 2020;Rathmann, Perretti, et al. 2023;von Cramon-Taubadel and Weaver 2009). ...

Patterns of heritability across the human diphyodont dental complex: Crown morphology of Australian twins and families
  • Citing Article
  • February 2020

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

... Data were collected using photographic and textbased descriptions of the morphological variations (Pilloud et al. 2022;Scott and Irish 2017), as well as the 27 ASUDAS reference plaques printed in plastic by the company Bones Clones Inc. In this study, we utilized only 30 variables on key teeth and traits considered most useful for evaluating phenotypic variation (Rathmann, Stoyanov, and Posamentir 2022;Scott and Irish 2017;Stojanowski et al. 2018Stojanowski et al. , 2019. Traits recorded on both antimeres were combined to consider maximum trait expression, regardless of side. ...

Quantitative genetic analyses of postcanine morphological crown variation
  • Citing Article
  • February 2019

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

... Data were collected using photographic and textbased descriptions of the morphological variations (Pilloud et al. 2022;Scott and Irish 2017), as well as the 27 ASUDAS reference plaques printed in plastic by the company Bones Clones Inc. In this study, we utilized only 30 variables on key teeth and traits considered most useful for evaluating phenotypic variation (Rathmann, Stoyanov, and Posamentir 2022;Scott and Irish 2017;Stojanowski et al. 2018Stojanowski et al. , 2019. Traits recorded on both antimeres were combined to consider maximum trait expression, regardless of side. ...

Heritability and genetic integration of anterior tooth crown variants in the South Carolina Gullah
  • Citing Article
  • July 2018

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

... Stojanowski et al. (2017) documented low size modularity between tooth types in human dentition, except for the first molar forming a distinct module. However, their analysis of genetic correlations based on crown metric measurements indicates strong integration between upper central and lateral incisors, and weaker integration between incisors and canines(Stojanowski et al., 2017). Moreover,Braga and Heuze (2007) documented a strong integration between central and lateral incisors, associated with greater developmental plasticity ...

Heritability and genetic integration of tooth size in the South Carolina Gullah
  • Citing Article
  • December 2017

American Journal of Physical Anthropology

... We chose to examine the molar crown as an indicator of size and shape given the phylogenetic importance of teeth in fossil and living primates. Molar morphology, as well as maximum dimensions of the occlusal surface, are shown to be highly heritable considering the fact that cusp morphology is heavily influenced by genetic factors (Hlusko et al. 2002;2006;Monson and Hlusko 2014;Paul and Stojanowski 2017). The shape of the occlusal margin of molars is influenced by the maximum and minimum dimensions of the cusps that differ in size per individual and can be effectively captured using elliptical Fourier analysis. ...

Comparative performance of deciduous and permanent dental morphology in detecting biological relatives
  • Citing Article
  • June 2017

American Journal of Physical Anthropology