Jukka Jernvall (born 1963) is a Finnishevolutionary biologist in the field ofevo-devo research.[1] His research has centered on the interplay ofecology,evolution anddevelopmental biology, especially of the mammaliandentition. Jernvall is currently anAcademy Professor[2] at the Institute of Biotechnology,University of Helsinki.[3]
Jernvall received hisPh.D. inevolutionary biology in 1995. His thesis investigating the evolution and development of mammalianmolarcusp patterns was supervised byIrma Thesleff andMikael Fortelius. This led to the description ofenamel knot as molecular signaling centers in teeth. He also discovered and coined the term ‘secondaryenamel knot’, previously overlooked signaling centers regulating tooth cusp development. This discovery helped to mechanistically link molecular regulation of growth and differentiation to shape. Later, Jernvall has focused on the modelling of three-dimensional dentitionphenotypes. He has studied why certain dentition patterns arise several times during the course of evolution, while other patterns occur only rarely. Jernvall's team has developed several methods from computer modeling of organ development to three-dimensional analysis of biological shape development and function.[4] Current research ranges from mutant mice in the laboratory to evolutionary diversity in the fossil record and to seal genomics.
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