Interested in teeth?
You’re in the right place.
About the Lab
The Dental Phenomics Lab is housed in the Department of Anthropology on the first floor of Old Main at the University of Arkansas. Our research focuses on the dentition, the factors that influence its variation, and its utility for reconstructing past phenomena in the archaeological and fossil records. Laboratory projects are interdisciplinary, drawing upon theory, methods, and samples that span several fields, including dental anthropology, evolutionary developmental biology, quantitative genetics, bioarchaeology, forensic odontology, clinical dentistry, and oral biology.
Researchers in our lab:
- use pedigreed dental samples and quantitative genetic approaches to evaluate how genes, environment, and development influence tooth size and shape;
- investigate the deciduous dentition (baby teeth) as the primary interface between the human skeletal system and external environment;
- evaluate evo-devo models of dental development using tooth crown morphology;
- use dental phenotypes to reconstruct past relationships at various scales;
- work with local clinicians to examine the interconnected nature of craniofacial growth, dental development, and airway/respiratory health.
Our work leverages collaborations with the local clinical community, University of Arkansas’ MICRO Facility, and several partner research institutions. Please explore the following pages of this site for more information on active lab projects: