Biorhythm of Deciduous Enamel Growth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biorhythm of Deciduous Enamel Growth
IRAS ID
261173
Contact name
Patrick Mahoney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 8 days
Research summary
BACKGROUND
Biorhythms are cyclic changes in an organism’s growth or functioning that are driven by an internal biological clock and synchronized through environmental cues. Teeth retain evidence of a biorhythm as Retzius lines in enamel. The periodicity of Retzius lines (RP) varies between humans but is generally assumed to be constant within an individual. The source of the biorhythm underlying RP is unknown but is hypothesized that it is linked to the endocrine system, which has a role in regulating metabolism and body mass.PROBLEM
It is currently assumed that RP does not vary within an individual. This assumption - often treated as fact - has not yet been truly established. Based upon our trial research, we suspect the underlying biological clock produces a sequence of rhythms for humans, rather than a single static value. We already know that the biorhythm has a role in determining the ‘end products’ of human bones and teeth. We do not know the extent to which the biorhythm varies in human deciduous teeth, within an individual.OBJECTIVES.
1. Assess the extent that RP varies within naturally exfoliated, and dental extractions, of deciduous teeth from English children (n=75) and from Canadian children (n=50).2. Determine if RP varies between males and females, and between English and Canadian children.
WHERE
This enamel histology research project, which will last 5 years, will be undertaken in the Human Osteology Research Lab, University of Kent. This is a secure facility.IMPORTANCE
a) Forensics / Bioarchaeology. Our project could alter the way that RP is incorporated into age-at-death estimates from teeth, which currently assume that one individual has one RP value.
b) Human Biology. The biorhythm underlying RP is potentially a new influence on human growth. It has only been considered recently, it is incompletely explored, but could open up new ways of assessing childhood growth.REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EM/0126
Date of REC Opinion
8 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion