Question

dental formulas in biology

Answer 1

Dental formula for human adult is 2123/2123 in this formula first digit represent I(incisors) ,next to that represent C(canines) ,and third pm (premolars) , fourth m(molars ). 

Answer 2

Do you know? In mammals especially, the number of teeth in both the jaws varied with respect to their food habit. However, it is constant for a particular species.

When we represent the number of teeths according to their kind by any sort of equation, it is known as Dental Formula.

Now how to write the formula?

It is the formula showing the no. of teeths in one half of the upper/lower jaw.

It is separated (i.e. upper and lower jaw) by a horizontal line which is similar to that of a fraction in mathematics.

The no. of teeth shown in the formulae multiplied by 2, gives the total no. of teeth in a species.

Dental formula of Human.

CHILD (milk teeth) - 2 1 0 2 2 1 0 2

ADULTS - 2 1 2 3 2 1 2 3

Here:

Here you can see teeth in upper half jaw is 2 + 1 + 0 + 2 = 5. The total no. of teeth in upper jaw is 5 × 2 = 10. And similarly total no. of teeth in child = 10 × 2 ( both jaws) = 20.

In this way, we can find the total no. of teeth in all organisms by the help of given Dental Formula.

Dental formula for more animals:

Dog - 3 1 4 2 3 1 4 3

Cat - 3 1 3 1 ∣ 3 1 2 1

Cow - 0 0 3 3 ∣ 1 0 2 3

Elephant - 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

Note!!

The no. is arranged with correspondence with the kind of teeth in order of Incisors, Cannines, Pre molars, Molars in one half jaw in each row.