Dispensary Corner 19 Feb 13
February 19, 2013
GO back to the Stone Age.
Analysis of DNA from tartar
preserved on the teeth of ancient
skeletons has revealed the
consequences of changes in
human diet and health from the
Stone Age to modern day.
According to the researchers,
the ancient genetic record reveals
the negative impact and changes
farming and manufactured foods
have had on the evolution of our
oral bacteria.
Published in Nature Genetics,
the research saw scientists
extract DNA from tartar from 34
prehistoric northern European
human skeletons, and then trace
changes in the nature of oral
bacteria from the last huntergatherers,
through the first
farmers to later Bronze Age and
Medieval times.
“The composition of oral
bacteria changed markedly with
the introduction of farming, and
again around 150 years ago,” said
study head Prof Alan Cooper.
“With the introduction of
processed sugar and flour during
the Industrial Revolution, we can
see a dramatically decreased
diversity in our oral bacteria,
allowing domination by cariescausing
strains.
“Oral bacteria in modern man
are markedly less diverse than
historic populations and this is
thought to contribute to chronic
oral and other disease in postindustrial
lifestyles.
“The modern mouth basically
exists in a permanent disease
state,” he added.
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