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Baldness Be Gone?

Posted by michael on from the not-just-the-president-of-hair-club-for-men dept.

efudddd writes "Science Daily has an interesting article about a new Nature paper; two chemical signals that turn stem cells into hair follicles have been identified. Implications are wider than just hair regrowth."

4 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Ear hair? Fine hair follicles? by phorm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I would be interested in how this would help people with problems related to the smaller-scale hairlike follicles that are found in the ear (cilia). Some people experience hearing loss due to damaged cilia, though I believe in many it's due to damage to the "stirrup."

    Hair is more than just that which is on your head (or visible on the rest of your body). Knowing more about the creation/behavior of the tiny hairs which line various internal parts of our bodies, and moreover being able to fix them, could be very useful indeed

    1. Re:Ear hair? Fine hair follicles? by C21 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      more important than the inner ear, what about the lungs, and the damage incurred from smoking. Being able to genetically modify and regrow that cilia would help TREMENDOUSLY.

      --
      this is not a sig.
  2. Re:Finally!!! by fehlschlag · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Now, why would you want to have even more hair on your palms? ;P

    But seriously, being a happy member of the elite with extended facial surface, I have found that there are several quite distinct genetic behaviors in the follicles on my head. My beard has a strong red color with a fairly wiry (sp?) quality, but the side hair is rather lightcolored, almost a red-tinted blond. The big surprise is the back side of my head which has taken on a vary dark red coloring, almost black, and very dense.

    Any form of hair restoration methods would have the challenge of matching the existing behavior, or completely replacing them. The stem cell method could probably solve that.

    Sadly, no matter which way one chooses, it would be very expensive. And, let's face it, the whole issue is really only one of a psychological boost to self-esteem, which can be gotten much cheaper elsewhere.

    For those worried that baldness keeps the woman away, sure some, but there are plenty that are not inhibited by such. One does not have to have one's life dominated by those who judge soley on visual standards.

    ...now if someone could come up with a solution to those mysterious forests in my nose and ears...

  3. Re:Ethics, schmethics by mfifer · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Then maybe women will let me be promiscuous.

    They'll be working on their own issues ;-)

    One of the aspects that scientists have been trying to understand in development of hair follicles, tooth buds, mammary glands and lungs is how these various transduction pathways work together,? said Fuchs.