this post was submitted on 21 May 2025

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Teeth first evolved as sensory tissue in the armored exoskeletons of ancient fish, fossil scans find (phys.org)

submitted 1 week ago by General_Effort@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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WHAT?!

Original paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08944-w

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[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I just am not sure what biological purpose it serves, other then to dissuade eating extremely abrasive stuff all the time. It's not like if their teeth hurts they can go to a dentist and or nutritionist to get them repaired or tell them exactly what is wrong with their diet.

[–] General_Effort@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Fair enough. We have pain receptors all over our internal organs, and I can't figure out what they are good for. Maybe teach us to avoid blunt force trauma?

I think our ancestors cracked nuts with their teeth. I think those nerves might help to get that right.