The Molecular Imaging Center (MIC), Department of Radiology Presents our Speaker for a Special MIC Seminar Series: Preclinical and Basic Research Using Imaging-Based Analysis

Becky Wu
Ph.D. candidate
Department of Earth Sciences, USC
Dinosaur Institute, NHMLA

None of the modern birds (Neornithines) have teeth, but most of the Mesozoic birds have been found with true teeth that show wide diversity among stem birds. The occurrence of the avian dentition and their polyphyodonty tooth replacement has been known since the 19^th century, yet this phenomenon still lacks rigorous study. Micro CT scans provide non-destructive means to study avian dental replacement with 3-D perspectives. The scan images of the tooth-bearing bones of some Mesozoic birds reveal the development of replacement teeth and the replacement patterns, indicating dental regeneration and tooth cycling. Through the 3-D images, we can now better understand whether these stem birds had alternating tooth replacement patterns like their non-avian dinosaur relatives did and whether this kind of replacement pattern is conserved in archosaurs.