Jaw structure is shaped by diet, study finds
The shape of our jaw bones has been defined by eating habits, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.The results show that unlike the skull, jaw shapes are a result of the type of diet, rather than genetic differences.
Using a sample of 300 skulls from 11 different populations, Dr von Cramon-Taubadel found that those from an agricultural background had shorter and wider jaw bones than those who were hunter-gatherers.
The anthropologist believes that this finding is a result of the differences in stress that the two diets place on the jaw bone. She also thinks that it offers an explanation for why so many people suffer from overcrowding with teeth.
"This [finding] explains why there is often a mismatch between the size of the lower face and the dentition, which, in turn, leads to increased prevalence of dental crowding in modern populations."
Dr von Cramon-Taubadel is an expert on human evolution from the University of Kent.
