2018 Pakistan Edition DENTAL TRIBUNE 15 May Genetic mutation from last ice age linked to shovel-shaped incisors DT International B ERKELEY, Calif., U.S. - Scientists have been puzzled b y t h e e v o l u t i o n a r y adaptation behind a common tooth trait of northeastern Asians and Native Americans: shovel-shaped incisors. An analysis of archeological specimens carried out by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley has shown that nearly all early Native Americans had shoveled incisors, and genetic evidence pinpoints the selection to a long period of isolation in the far north 20,000 years ago. The critical role that breastfeeding plays in infant survival may have led, during the last ice age, to common genetic changes in East Asians and Native Americans that also affect the shape of their teeth. According to the researchers, this genetic mutation, which probably arose 20,000 years ago during a period referred to as the Beringian standstill, increases the branching density of mammary ducts in the breasts, potentially providing more fat and vitamin D to infants living in the far north, where the scarcity of ultraviolet radiation makes it difficult to produce vitamin D in the skin. It just so happens that the gene controlling mammary duct growth also affects the shape of human incisors. Consequently, as the genetic mutation was selected for in an ancestral population living in the far north during the last ice age, shovel- shaped incisors became more frequent too. Incisors are called shovel-shaped when the lingual and palatal surfaces of the incisors have ridges along the sides and incisal edge. For the study, Dr. Leslea Hlusko, an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the university, and her colleagues assessed the occurrence of shovel-shaped incisors in archeological populations in order to estimate the time and place of evolutionary selection for the trait. They found that nearly 100 percent of Native Americans prior to European colonization had shoveled incisors, as do approximately 40 percent of East Asians today. The genetic mutation responsible for shoveling and ductal branching in mammary glands is also involved in determining the density of sweat glands in the skin and the thickness of hair shafts. As a consequence, selection on one trait leads to coordinated evolution of the others. The Beringian standstill describes the several thousand-year period of isolation of ancestral Native Americans in an area known as Beringiatoday consisting of the Bering Strait and adjacent parts of Siberia and Alaska that resulted in genetic differentiation from other Asian groups. Genetic studies of animals and plants from the Beringia region suggest an isolated area during that time where species with locally adaptive traits arose. Such isolation is suitable for selection on genetic variants that make it easier for plants, animals and humans to survive. People have long thought that this shoveling pattern is so strong that there must have been evolutionary selection favoring the trait. This Beringian population is one example of what has happened thousands of times, over millions of years: Human populations form, exist for a little while and then disperse to form new populations, mixing with other groups of people, all of them leaving traces on modern human variation today. An important take-home message is that human variation today reflects this dynamic process of ephemeral populations, rather than the traditional concept of geographic races with distinct differences between them, said Hlusko. 40th APDC held in Manila Continued from front page professionals, continually strive for excellence in whatever field of specialty we may be into. Featured in this convention are renowned local and foreign speakers from every specialty field, who will bring in their expertise through noteworthy lectures that are relevant and timely to our dental practice." Dr Arleen R. Reyes, Philippine Dental Association President-Elect The conference had a distinguished lineup of speakers including Regional and international experts coming together to lead a dynamic scientific programme, plenary sessions, lunch symposia, and hands-on workshops specifically tailored to the region's dental practitioners at all career stages. The state-of-the art scientific programme, along with over 500 dental trade booths provided the participants with an opportunity to hear firsthand from the world's leading experts in dentistry and to inspire the advancement of the profession in their home countries. Manila, known as the 'Pearl of the Orient', is center of the country's government and commerce and is filled with important architectural and cultural landmarks. An elaborate social programme was organized for which the attendees were recommended to register beforehand. Sindh Budget 2018-19 Continued from page 2 2 Regional Blood Transfusion Centers at Sukkur and Jamshoro have been outsourced to Sukkur Blood B a n k a n d I n d u s H o s p i t a l , r e s p e c t i v e l y. Grants: Sindh Government is granting Rs 5.59 billion to SIUT within the next financial year (2018-19). It includes establishment of SIUT at Larkana with an allocation of Rs 497.5 million. SIUT Sukkur chapter has been established at the cost of Rs 552.27 million. This institute has been functionalized to provide affordable OPD, Diagnostic, Dialysis and other specialized services. Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit in SIUT established at the cost of Rs 692.779 million, which is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities, benefiting 50-100 patients. Child Life Foundation is managing children emergency rooms in 3 Government Hospitals under PPP agreement which includes, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, National Institute of Child Health and Sindh Government Hospital Korangi No.5. By May 2018, Child Life Foundation would start operation at 2 more emergency service centers in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Lyari General Hospital in Karachi. By June 2018, Child Life would begin ER operations in 2 more facilities: Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah and Chandka Medical College, Larkana. Lastly by the end of 2018, Children ERs would also become functional at Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College, Sukkur and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. Furthermore, he added that, Sindh is facing challenges of malnutrition, as 48 percent children in Sindh are undernourished and stunted. Sindh Government, in collaboration with World Bank, has begun a multi-sectorial program to reduce the rate of stunting in children with the aim to reduce it by 30% within the next 5 years. Rs 2.4 billion are allocated for the non-development side, in the year 2017-18. CM proposed an allocation of Rs 5.1 billion in the next year. The major departments responsible for this program are Health, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Local Govt. Social Welfare. A new allocation was proposed in the budget, for International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences for strengthening Jamil-ur-Rehman Centre for Genome Research at the University of Karachi to establish a DNA Lab. Funds were allocated in the budget to improve Cardiology Department at Lyari General Hospital Karachi; to strengthen Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Hyderabad; to construct 200-bed Surgical Block at Liaquat University Hospital; to construct 200-bed Urology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Endoscopy, Suite, Dermatology, endocrinology and Diabetes Block, LUH, Jamshoro; to establish NICVD Satellite Centre at Shaheed Benazirabad. To rehabilitate and strengthen Nursing Hostel, Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, O.T., External Development and Missing Facilities at Sheikh Zayed Campus, CMCH, Larkana; to construct Building of Nursing School & Hostel Mirpurkhas; to up-grade Rural Health Centre to the level of Taluka Hospital Khanpur in District Shikarpur; to strengthen Development wing including Capacity Building of officers/officials of Health Department. Indus Hospital Badin: The initiatives brought about remarkable improvement in the provision of public health service, including OPDs, IPDS, surgeries, etc. The management of DHQ Badin was handed over to Indus Hospital, under the PPP mode in March, 2016 and very soon, people of Badin will see a new 250-bedded health facility. ICD-Honouring the worlds ... Continued from page 4 We have already touched on the ideas of friendship and passion of ICD Fellows. What is the main ingredient of the ICDs success to you? Dedication and commitment to ICD core values is the common denominator; ICD Fellows are driven as individuals and as a group to improving dentistry and the life of those being underserved. One sees that everywhere we have an ICD presence. The celebration of the 100-year anniversary is planned to be a worldwide event; every section, district and region will be holding events. Can you tell us a bit more about what we can expect before the grand finale in Nagoya in Japan in 2020? As mentioned earlier, we have 15 sections, 70 districts and 15 regions worldwide, and they will be participating in different ways to acknowledge the 100-year anniversary. Every ICD jurisdiction will have an event during 2020 that will memorialise that special year and will lead up to the very special finale in Nagoya in November 2020. There will be a ceremony in Nagoya in which new inductees from all over the world will participate in an Olympic- style event, in addition to a gala banquet, special entertainment and many surprises! -DT