Evidence of amelogenesis imperfecta in an early African Homo erectus

摘要: The teeth of the Homo erectus child (Garba IV) recovered from Melka Kunture Ethiopia and dated to 1.5 Ma are characterized by generalized enamel dysplasia, reduced radio-opacity, severe attrition. This combination features is found in a large group hereditary, dysplasias known as amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). SEM studies carried out on epoxy replicas Garba IV child, confirmed that defects noted were developmental not due diagenesis. prism arrangement abnormal there deep vertical furrows lacking both buccal lingual surfaces all molars. lesions differ those characteristic linear hypoplasia form discrete horizontal or pits within otherwise normal enamel. We propose earliest example AI provides link between palaeoanthropology molecular biology investigations evolutionary history genetic disorders.