December 2025 in “Frontiers in Veterinary Science” Liaoning cashmere goats grow more cashmere by boosting fat production, supporting hair structure, and controlling inflammation.
September 2025 in “Animal Bioscience” Key genes and pathways affect wool fiber thickness, improving wool quality.
19 citations
,
April 2015 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” The research identified genes and pathways important for sheep wool growth and shedding.
6 citations
,
January 2020 in “Czech Journal of Animal Science” The FAT1 gene and its variations can help improve wool quality in Chinese Merino sheep through selective breeding.
3 citations
,
August 2022 in “Archives animal breeding/Archiv für Tierzucht” Certain genetic changes in the KAP22-1 gene are linked to better wool quality in Egyptian sheep.
1 citations
,
March 2022 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Low-coverage sequencing is a cost-effective way to identify genes related to wool traits in rabbits.
1 citations
,
May 2025 in “Scientific Reports” The study identified key genes and pathways that influence goat wool quality and growth.
7 citations
,
November 2019 in “Animal” Melatonin increases cashmere quality in goats but reduces their milk production and doesn't affect their offspring's hair growth.
7 citations
,
January 2010 in “Animal” Angora goat hair grows faster and produces more protein than cashmere goat hair, and certain hormones and nutrients positively affect hair growth and protein synthesis.
March 2024 in “Research Square (Research Square)” The TT genotype of a specific SNP in sheep is linked to better wool quality.
1 citations
,
January 1995 in “Lincoln University Research Archive (Lincoln University)” Wool growth is mainly controlled by external factors and specific proteins, not the follicles themselves.
9 citations
,
October 1989 in “Australian Journal of Agricultural Research” Mouse epidermal growth factor temporarily stops wool growth and causes cell changes in Merino sheep.
26 citations
,
December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Certain genes are linked to wool follicle structure and function, but not hair cycle regulation.
7 citations
,
June 2017 in “Gene” Overexpression of FGF5s makes Chinese Merino sheep grow longer and heavier wool.
1 citations
,
January 2012 in “International journal of trichology” Sheep hair follicle cells can grow a lot but need the dermal papilla to do so.
June 2023 in “Livestock studies” The article concludes that understanding the molecular processes in hair follicle development can improve the quality of fibers like Angora and cashmere.
20 citations
,
February 1994 in “In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal” Wool follicles can grow in a lab with the right nutrients and conditions.
4 citations
,
March 2016 in “Small ruminant research” Vicuña wool's quality is due to a high density of fine secondary hair follicles, and their skin glands may be used for communication.
August 2019 in “Research Square (Research Square)” Certain long non-coding RNAs in cashmere goats affect hair growth when treated with a specific growth factor.
98 citations
,
May 2016 in “Genes” Understanding wool keratin-associated proteins in sheep can help improve wool quality through selective breeding.
27 citations
,
April 2020 in “Molecular Biology and Evolution” Ancient Chinese goats evolved cashmere-producing traits due to selective breeding, particularly in genes affecting hair growth.
19 citations
,
January 2023 in “Genes” Certain genes influence wool, growth, and reproduction traits in Uruguayan Merino sheep.
18 citations
,
September 2018 in “The Journal of Agricultural Science” Genetic variation in the KRTAP15-1 gene affects wool yield in sheep.
9 citations
,
November 2022 in “Biology” Key genes and pathways influence wool traits in Merino sheep.
September 2025 in “Animals” Key circRNAs play a role in wool follicle development, aiding in breeding better quality wool sheep.
November 2023 in “Animals” Feeding goats more during the non-growing period increases cashmere yield and length.
June 2023 in “Historical records of Australian science/Historical Records of Australian Science” George Ernest Rogers was a notable scientist who made important discoveries about hair and wool proteins.
115 citations
,
August 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Thyroid hormones help hair grow, reduce hair loss, and increase hair pigment.
112 citations
,
September 2021 in “BMC Biology” Key genes and factors crucial for hair follicle development and wool traits in Merino sheep were identified.
6 citations
,
October 2018 in “Endocrinology” Prenatally androgenized ewes can model increased hair diameter in women with PCOS.