Hair can't be as strong as Rapunzel's because it's impractical to scale up due to defects.
January 2025 in “Kuwait Journal of Science” KRT71 gene variants may influence camel hair shape but don't fully explain it.
Human hair can almost fully recover its structure within about 1,000 minutes after being stretched.
12 citations
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May 2021 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” Laminin 332 is essential for normal skin cell behavior and structure.
2 citations
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December 2023 in “International journal of molecular sciences” Understanding keratinization is crucial for treating skin conditions like ichthyoses and psoriasis.
122 citations
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January 2006 in “Molecular & Cellular Proteomics” Human hair contains many proteins, with some being highly abundant and modified.
90 citations
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August 2004 in “Physiological Genomics” Dermal papilla cells help skin stem cells grow into hair.
73 citations
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May 2009 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” Disrupting the Sox21 gene in mice causes hair loss and regrowth cycles.
65 citations
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March 2017 in “Experimental Dermatology” Curly hair is influenced by specific genetic variations.
57 citations
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August 2002 in “American Journal Of Pathology” Cathepsin L deficiency causes hair and skin issues in mice.
18 citations
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April 2018 in “Biotechniques/BioTechniques” A new method was developed to extract and analyze proteins from very short human hairs.
11 citations
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January 2010 in “Dermatology Research and Practice” Desmosomes are crucial for human skin development, increasing in density as the skin matures.
10 citations
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April 2013 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Epidermolytic ichthyosis can be inherited in a semidominant way with mild symptoms in carriers.
6 citations
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August 2023 in “BMC genomics” The study found that genetic differences related to hair growth and other traits help cashmere goats adapt to high-altitude environments.
January 2023 in “Indian dermatology online journal” A boy with Pachyonychia congenita has a confirmed gene mutation, highlighting the need for a local genetic database in India.
97 citations
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March 2006 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Mutations in the DSG4 gene cause a severe form of brittle hair and skin issues.
12 citations
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August 2007 in “Human Molecular Genetics” Lymphotoxin-β is crucial for proper skin development in embryos.
September 2022 in “Canadian journal of animal science” Certain gene variations are linked to the thickness of cashmere goat hair.
The KRT84 gene is linked to better wool quality in Gansu Alpine Fine-wool sheep.
November 2023 in “BMC genomics” The study concluded that the arachidonic acid pathway and the protein KRT79 play a role in determining the fineness of cashmere.
December 2021 in “INDIGO (University of Illinois at Chicago)” Sheep hair follicle development and wool curvature are influenced by specific cell types and gene expressions.
January 2026 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” S100a4 is key for hair growth in cashmere goats.
170 citations
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January 2010 in “animal” Hair follicle growth and fiber production in animals are influenced by chemical signals, proteins, pigmentation, genetics, and nutrients.
87 citations
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February 2000 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Stem cells in developing hair follicles move to specific areas as they mature.
46 citations
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May 2003 in “Mechanisms of Development” Increasing calcium sensing receptor speeds up skin and hair development in mice.
35 citations
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August 2009 in “Differentiation” Desmoglein 4 is controlled by specific proteins that affect hair growth.
16 citations
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October 2021 in “Trends in biotechnology” Future hair products will use ecofriendly proteins and peptides to improve hair health and appearance.
11 citations
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March 2021 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” A gene mutation causes early keratinocyte maturation leading to hair loss in Olmsted syndrome.
11 citations
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October 2002 in “Genetics” A new mouse hair mutation, called hague, is semidominant and unstable, but the exact cause is unknown.
8 citations
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July 2020 in “BMC genomics” The research found genes that change during cashmere goat hair growth and could help determine the best time to harvest cashmere.