Why only two sets?

[Etha]

So I was wondering (As I often do, and just now decided to converse about it), why do Humans just get the two pairs of teeth? Wouldn't it be a biological advantage for survival to have? And as such, evolution would have supplied us with more pairs?
What say you, NS? ( That was the first time I've ever said that!).

[Pope Joan]

I know someone who has grown multiple rows of teeth, like a shark.

It is cumbersome and uncomfortable.

[Salandriagado]

Growing more body parts is energy-expensive. Unless there's a particular evolutionary drive to do so, it tends to not happen.

[Alyekra]

I know some people who get really old sometimes get a third set.

EDIT: Or maybe not.

[Avenio]

Because the jaw and the skull both evolved from highly-modified tissue associated with the vertebrae. Bilateral symmetry applies.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Teeth shmeeth. I want some spare cartilage in my hip and back.

[Shaluach]

Teeth shmeeth. I want some spare cartilage in my hip and back.

Sounds rather painful.

[Etha]

Growing more body parts is energy-expensive. Unless there's a particular evolutionary drive to do so, it tends to not happen.

But, Humans have been in an environment where receiving said energy is quite a feasible task.
Also, because its uncomfortable shouldn't have anything to do with it, right? Survival's survival.

[Sun Wukong]

I tried to revisit the issue at the last several conclaves of divine and semi-divine entities, but the Tooth Fairy Union is a powerful lobby.

[Shaluach]

Growing more body parts is energy-expensive. Unless there's a particular evolutionary drive to do so, it tends to not happen.

But, Humans have been in an environment where receiving said energy is quite a feasible task.
Also, because its uncomfortable shouldn't have anything to do with it, right? Survival's survival.

The problem here is that we can actually survive without more than a second set of teeth.

[Etha]

I tried to revisit the issue at the last several conclaves of divine and semi-divine entities, but the Tooth Fairy Union is a powerful lobby.

...?
Suck it Shaluach! You can't do Squat on here! MWAHAHAHA!!!

[Etha]

But, Humans have been in an environment where receiving said energy is quite a feasible task.
Also, because its uncomfortable shouldn't have anything to do with it, right? Survival's survival.

The problem here is that we can actually survive without more than a second set of teeth.

But Birds could have Survived without losing their teeth, yet they did as so to be more fit to their niche. So shouldn't Humans do so as well? (Except the task is quite the opposite here. ).

[Goeiehoopland]

But Birds could have Survived without losing their teeth, yet they did as so to be more fit to their niche. So shouldn't Humans do so as well? (Except the task is quite the opposite here. ).

In what universe does an additional set of teeth help humans better adapt to its niche?
Followup question: is it the same universe where meat is cooked, greens are smoked, and food is artificially processed?

[AiliailiA]

So I was wondering (As I often do, and just now decided to converse about it), why do Humans just get the two pairs of teeth? Wouldn't it be a biological advantage for survival to have? And as such, evolution would have supplied us with more pairs?
What say you, NS? ( That was the first time I've ever said that!).

Evolutionarily, chewing things like grain came along too late to change something so basic. That's my guess, but there is considerable doubt about what the "neolithic" diet actually was.

I really wish it was possible to grow more teeth. My last set are pretty bad. Hopefully science can come up with something better than dentures before that's my only option.

[Etha]

But Birds could have Survived without losing their teeth, yet they did as so to be more fit to their niche. So shouldn't Humans do so as well? (Except the task is quite the opposite here. ).

In what universe does an additional set of teeth help humans better adapt to its niche?
Followup question: is it the same universe where meat is cooked, greens are smoked, and food is artificially processed?

The Universe where losing your teeth in a freak accident could cause death. This probably wouldn't lead to death in a first world country, but...
Yes, yes it is.

[AiliailiA]

I tried to revisit the issue at the last several conclaves of divine and semi-divine entities, but the Tooth Fairy Union is a powerful lobby.

Very bad for their industry if just anyone could grow teeth.

[Sun Wukong]

In what universe does an additional set of teeth help humans better adapt to its niche?
Followup question: is it the same universe where meat is cooked, greens are smoked, and food is artificially processed?

The Universe where losing your teeth in a freak accident could cause death. This probably wouldn't lead to death in a first world country, but...
Yes, yes it is.

Those same people who lack basic medical care would be as likely to die as a result of impacted teeth growing in improperly.

[Etha]

So I was wondering (As I often do, and just now decided to converse about it), why do Humans just get the two pairs of teeth? Wouldn't it be a biological advantage for survival to have? And as such, evolution would have supplied us with more pairs?
What say you, NS? ( That was the first time I've ever said that!).

Evolutionarily, chewing things like grain came along too late to change something so basic. That's my guess, but there is considerable doubt about what the "neolithic" diet actually was.

I really wish it was possible to grow more teeth. My last set are pretty bad. Hopefully science can come up with something better than dentures before that's my only option.

Well, in places where this possibly could occur, it's probably prevented due to the Whole world's gene pool being mixed together due to Global travel and the such. But if you could put Boundary Bubbles around certain areas around the world, it might start to occur.

[Big Jim P]

Teeth shmeeth. I want some spare cartilage in my hip and back.

Brother, I hear you.

[Etha]

The Universe where losing your teeth in a freak accident could cause death. This probably wouldn't lead to death in a first world country, but...
Yes, yes it is.

Those same people who lack basic medical care would be as likely to die as a result of impacted teeth growing in improperly.

Well, those deaths would not account for a large percentage of the pop., and as such would be mostly irrelevant.

[Sun Wukong]

Those same people who lack basic medical care would be as likely to die as a result of impacted teeth growing in improperly.

Well, those deaths would not account for a large percentage of the pop., and as such would be mostly irrelevant.

The same is true for people who die on account of loosing all their teeth.

[Sun Wukong]

Teeth shmeeth. I want some spare cartilage in my hip and back.

Brother, I hear you.

I tried to revisit the issue at the last several conclaves of divine and semi-divine entities, but the Tooth Fairy Chiropractor Union is a powerful lobby.

[AiliailiA]

Evolutionarily, chewing things like grain came along too late to change something so basic. That's my guess, but there is considerable doubt about what the "neolithic" diet actually was.

I really wish it was possible to grow more teeth. My last set are pretty bad. Hopefully science can come up with something better than dentures before that's my only option.

Well, in places where this possibly could occur, it's probably prevented due to the Whole world's gene pool being mixed together due to Global travel and the such. But if you could put Boundary Bubbles around certain areas around the world, it might start to occur.

Considering wisdom teeth, evolution seems to have taken us towards fewer teeth rather than more.

The Universe where losing your teeth in a freak accident could cause death. This probably wouldn't lead to death in a first world country, but...
Yes, yes it is.

Those same people who lack basic medical care would be as likely to die as a result of impacted teeth growing in improperly.

Good point. A mutation which provides a third set of teeth is more likely to kill (before breeding age even) than to provide any individual benefit.

We're looking for family or tribe benefit in older people still being able to chew, and that necessarily takes a lot longer to evolve than an individual advantage.

[Etha]

Teeth shmeeth. I want some spare cartilage in my hip and back.

Brother, I hear you.

Big Jim P
Post Czar

Posts: 34687
Founded: Antiquity
Compulsory Consumerist State
? That's...An odd Founding date...

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Brother, I hear you.

Big Jim P
Post Czar

Posts: 34687
Founded: Antiquity
Compulsory Consumerist State
? That's...An odd Founding date...

He's been around longer than SARS.