In what could lead to a cure for baldness, scientists have discovered a technique for regrowing hair in an adult mammal for the first time. University of Pennsylvania researchers suceded in stimulating the growth of new skin complete with hair follicles in mice, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Researchers working with mice removed patches of skin and manipulated the healing process to trigger dormant genes known as wnt proteins. The wnt proteins in turn prompted the stem cells to migrate to the area and create new follicles. The research also holds hope for the hirsute: by reducing wnt proteins the team found they could also suppress hair growth.