10 citations
,
September 2016 in “Animal genetics” Researchers identified key genes and proteins linked to wool growth in sheep.
September 2025 in “Animals” Key proteins and pathways are crucial for wool fineness, but more research is needed.
15 citations
,
January 1996 in “Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide)” Keratin gene regulation was emerging, with a key transcription factor found to influence hair growth and gene expression.
9 citations
,
December 2018 in “Journal of Natural Fibers” Magra sheep's wool luster is linked to specific keratin gene expression and protein variations.
34 citations
,
September 2007 in “Experimental Dermatology” The outer layer of Merino wool is rich in sulfur proteins, making it resistant to damage.
4 citations
,
January 2020 in “Genes” The KRTAP21-2 gene affects wool length and quality in sheep.
3 citations
,
May 2018 in “The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences” The KAP 7 gene affects wool traits in Rambouillet sheep, with the BB genotype showing the best wool characteristics.
January 1985 in “OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network)”
4 citations
,
January 2019 in “International journal of molecular sciences” Genetically modified sheep with more β-catenin grew more wool without changing the wool's length or thickness.
2 citations
,
February 2025 in “PLoS ONE” Key proteins influence wool quality by affecting hair follicle development in sheep.
17 citations
,
October 2017 in “Scientific reports” Fine wool sheep have more genes for wool quality, while coarse wool sheep have more for skin and muscle traits.
112 citations
,
September 2021 in “BMC Biology” Key genes and factors crucial for hair follicle development and wool traits in Merino sheep were identified.
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.
July 2005 in “HortScience” Adding wool or hair waste to soil boosts crop yields and nutrient levels.
76 citations
,
February 1993 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry” KAP6 genes are conserved across species and active in hair follicles.
4 citations
,
September 2016 in “World Rabbit Science” High wool density in Rex rabbits is linked to specific gene activity affecting hair follicle development.
4 citations
,
January 2015 in “Sen'i Gakkaishi” Hair and wool strength is affected by the number and type of bonds in their protein structures, with hair having more protein aggregates than wool.
7 citations
,
May 2022 in “PLOS ONE” Certain genes and pathways are linked to the production of finer and denser wool in Hetian sheep.
22 citations
,
November 2014 in “Proteins Structure Function and Bioinformatics” Cysteines in wool fibers are accessible and form important disulfide bonds.
January 2013 in “Wageningen Academic Publishers eBooks” Proteomics helps understand protein changes in wool fiber development.
March 2026 in “World Rabbit Science” DKK4 can be used to improve wool quality in Zhexi Angora rabbits.
December 2025 in “Animals” TGFBR1 slows down cell growth in fine-wool sheep hair follicles.
April 2025 in “OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University)” Exosomes from small-tailed Han sheep enhance hair growth in mice.
25 citations
,
September 2014 in “SpringerPlus” Sheep have a unique gene, KAP8-2, that humans don't have, which may affect wool properties.
25 citations
,
October 1962 in “Journal of Ultrastructure Research” The hair follicle structure is more complex than thought, with new findings on protein formation.
5 citations
,
October 2022 in “BMC genomics” Certain microRNAs are important for sheep hair follicle development and could help improve wool quality.
1 citations
,
October 2022 in “PubMed” Gender affects wool traits in sheep, with males and females showing differences in skin proteins related to wool growth.
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.
14 citations
,
April 2016 in “PloS one” The KRTAP11-1 gene promoter is crucial for specific expression in sheep wool cortex.
24 citations
,
October 2019 in “Genes” A new sheep gene, KRTAP36-1, may help breed sheep with better wool by reducing prickle factor.