A system of opposing genetic forces determines why mammals develop a single row of teeth, while sharks sport several, according to a study published today in the journal Science. When completely understood, the genetic program described in the study may help guide efforts to re-grow missing teeth and prevent cleft palate, one of the most common birth defects. Gene expression is the process by which information stored in genes is converted into proteins that make up the body’s structures. (source: urmc.rochester.edu)
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