Carabelli Traits in the Dental Anthropology

Abstract

Carabelli trait, which appears in the permanent molars and second deciduous molar of humans, is one of the most popular crown traits. Many papers have been published on the Carabelli trait from various perspectives of the dental anthropology. We planned to notice the latest papers on this trait, and to discuss many issues following the three key words; diversity, genetics, and phylogeny and ontogeny. In the part of "diversity", it is described that the criteria of the traits, the differences among populations, and the reason why the Carabelli trait is frequently found in the European populations. In the part of "genetics", we described the genetics, asymmetry, role of sex chromosomes, and the sexual dimorphism in this trait. In the part of "phylogeny and ontogeny", we discussed the phylogeny and ontogeny of the Carabelli trait, and the association between Carabelli trait and tooth size. Since the development of the methodology in the micro CT, molecular biology and the other biotechnology, the Carabelli traits will be analyzed in detail from various perspectives.