34 replies to this topic

[Green Lady]

A cure for baldness may be on the horizon following the discovery that hair follicles can be regenerated in mammalian skin.

Scientists made the breakthrough in mice after identifying a mechanism that allows dormant genes to re-awaken.

A US company, Follica Inc, has now licensed the technology in the hope of developing new treatments for hair loss and acne.

While adult mammals can repair injuries to themselves, they lack the ability to rebuild lost parts of their bodies - unlike newts and salamanders which can sprout entirely new limbs.

Experts previously thought it was equally impossible for adult skin to regenerate hair follicles.

The number of available follicles was set at birth, it was believed. Although there are reports going back 50 years of hair spontaneously re-growing on sites of wounds, these have been discounted due to lack of evidence.

The new study proved that fresh follicles really can form when large patches of skin are removed from the backs of mice. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine were able to demonstrate that healing effectively turned the clock back to an early stage of embryonic development.

Genes that had lain dormant since the mice were embryos sprang back into life, sending stem cells to the site of the injury. The unprogrammed cells eventually developed into new hair follicles.

The researchers found they could take advantage of this "embryonic window" to control the process with Wnt proteins, which play a key role in normal follicle development.

By introducing more Wnt proteins to the wound, they were able to double the number of new hair follicles. Conversely, blocking Wnt proteins halted follicle production.

http://lifestyle.aol...516132709990011

[In the Corner]

Green Lady said:

A cure for baldness may be on the horizon following the discovery that hair follicles can be regenerated in mammalian skin.


http://lifestyle.aol...516132709990011

So is this post aimed at anyone in particular?

:D

I can think of several Murmursians who might be interested.

And does this "Conversely, blocking Wnt proteins halted follicle production" mean that we may have an alternative to leg-shaving in the future?  Cause that'd be awesome.

[Corpus]

Taken yesterday.  Summer shorn.  By choice, not necessity.

[In the Corner]

Corpus said:

Taken yesterday.  Summer shorn.  By choice, not necessity.

Whoa!  Is that distinguished grey coming in around the temples???

And what an icy glare you have.  *shiver*

[Wingnut]

I'm imagining a tripod set up next to your desk to update the current hair situation. I just said tripod, someone take that and run with it.

Are you going for the Wasatch Mountain Man look or did you just decide to lay off the shaving for a day or two?

[In the Corner]

Wingnut said:

I'm imagining a tripod set up next to your desk to update the current hair situation. I just said tripod, someone take that and run with it.

Are you going for the Wasatch Mountain Man look or did you just decide to lay off the shaving for a day or two?

Corpy has a tripod behind his desk.

[beccakay]

In the Corner said:

Corpy has a tripod behind his desk.

I was thinking in his pants

[Wingnut]

I knew you two couldn't resist a chance to dish on Corpus' tripedal qualities.

[isilida 32]

Wingnut said:

I'm imagining a tripod set up next to your desk to update the current hair situation. I just said tripod, someone take that and run with it.

Are you going for the Wasatch Mountain Man look or did you just decide to lay off the shaving for a day or two?

i thought he was going for the stipe/red foxx look myself. without the hat of course.

that's corps in the corner.

[In the Corner]

isilida 32 said:

i thought he was going for the stipe/red foxx look myself. without the hat of course.

that's corps in the corner.

He's not quite grey enough yet to pull that off.

And there's no corps in this corner!  :eek:

[Green Lady]

That's just the range of reactions I was hoping to trigger.  Of course the posting of a pic was a dead cert.  Corper and his tripod are getting a little too predictable these days.

[In the Corner]

Green Lady said:

That's just the range of reactions I was hoping to trigger.  Of course the posting of a pic was a dead cert.  Corper and his tripod are getting a little too predictable these days.

I don't know why he keeps supplying the Rogaine-mongers with ammunition by posting pictures.

And this is pretty interesting too:  http://www.lasercomb.net/default.aspx

[Corpus]

1.  Not gray, silver.  And you can only see it when my hair is short, for some reason.

2.  Tripod jokes never get old, Green Lady.

3.  I never have a facial hair plan.  Sometimes I grow it, sometimes I shave.  Day to day.  

4.  Please note the adequate coverage.

[bizaleth]

Corpus' picture made me laugh. A lot. Is that wrong?

[Corpus]

bizaleth said:

Corpus' picture made me laugh. A lot. Is that wrong?

In my mind that's the correct response.  So no.

[bizaleth]

Corpus said:

In my mind that's the correct response.  So no.

I even snorted, I laughed so hard.

[Lois]

Corpus said:

Taken yesterday. Summer shorn. By choice, not necessity.

How come you look like a totally different person everytime you post a pic of your current hair cut? The madonna of the American legal world!;)

[Tuppenny]

Lois said:

How come you look like a totally different person everytime you post a pic of your current hair cut? The madonna of the American legal world!;)

Corpus doing the vogue pose?

[Ubergrier]

I've got to admit, you post a big head.

[In the Corner]

Lois said:

How come you look like a totally different person everytime you post a pic of your current hair cut? The madonna of the American legal world!;)

That picture bothers me, cause he looks so mean.  I think he needs a little pink:

http://www.murmurs.c...=1&d=1179434036