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A simple rule for our ancestors’ molar size

A single tooth informs us about one of our oldest relatives.

From the size of an isolated hominin tooth (in white), the sizes of the remaining primary teeth (in green) can be predicted. Illustrated here are the relative sizes predicted for the robust australopith 'Paranthropus boisei'. Credit: Alistair Evans, Matt Skinner, Kierstin Catlett and E. Susanne Daly