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Science

Lab-Grown Hair Cells Could Be On the Way To Treat Baldness (technologyreview.com) 111

Posted by BeauHD from the still-early-days dept.
An anonymous reader shares an excerpt from a report via MIT Technology Review: Biologists at several startups are applying the latest advances in genetic engineering to the age-old problem of baldness, creating new hair-forming cells that could restore a person's ability to grow hair. Some researchers tell MIT Technology Review they are using the techniques to grow human hair cells in their labs and even on animals. A startup called dNovo sent us a photograph of a mouse sprouting a dense clump of human hair -- the result of a transplant of what the company says are human hair stem cells. The company's founder is Ernesto Lujan, a Stanford University -- trained biologist. He says his company can produce the components of hair follicles by genetically "reprogramming" ordinary cells, like blood or fat cells. More work needs to be done, but Lujan is hopeful that the technology could eventually treat "the underlying cause of hair loss."
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Lab-Grown Hair Cells Could Be On the Way To Treat Baldness More

Lab-Grown Hair Cells Could Be On the Way To Treat Baldness

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  • Can't wait to see a bunch of hairy Krishnas at the airport.
  • Good news for shampoo manufacturers and barbers.

  • Lab-grown hair (Score:3, Informative)

    by sometimesblue ( 6685784 ) on Wednesday January 19, 2022 @09:27AM (#62187423)
    Sticking lab-grown hair on your bald spots isn't really addressing the "the underlying cause of hair loss.". Better that it didn't stop growing to begin with.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Merk42 ( 1906718 )

      Sticking lab-grown hair on your bald spots isn't really addressing the "the underlying cause of hair loss.". Better that it didn't stop growing to begin with.

      "...could eventually treat 'the underlying cause of hair loss.'"
      Eventually, as in, not in its current state. Probably the thought is if they can "reprogram" the cells now, they can eventually figure out what "reprogramed" them to stop producing hair in the first place.

      • The end days are upon us when we start tinkering with cellular DNA to satisfy petty human vanity.

        Hair? It's better gray than gone, but there's a whole lot worse things to lose than the hair on your head.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by jd ( 1658 )

          You are, of course, assuming that this is the one and only possible use for this technology, with no possible implications for any other aspect.

          One cause of death is through bone marrow's stem cells dying off. Indeed, that's probably the biggest cap to the upper bound to longevity. If you can create any type of stem cell from any other type of cell, then you can regenerate bone marrow. The underlying process is no different.

          Growing replacement organs for transplant is going to be a lot easier and and a grea

        • This is not vanity. Very few men look better after going bald. And a full head of hair provides surprisingly increased comfort in hot and cold weather, in addition to protecting your head against bumps and scrapes.

          Compare before baldness & after baldness pics of Patrick Stewart, Seal, Michael Jordan, Bruce Willis, The Rock, and Yul Brinner and most people would be startled at how much better they look with hair.

          Sure there are worst things out there, but saying that is about as constructive as telling

        • The likely cause of baldness is virus. JC polyomavirus or Epstein Barr. The body releases DKK-1 protein to inhibit the growth of cancer, which acts as an antagonist to the WNT/b-catenin pathway that is crucial to hair growth. Hair growth takes stem cells and a well functioning immune system to progress through the different stages of cell cycle correctly and without oncogenes pausing them like how epstein barr favors the s-phase. We all have Epstein Barr (herpesvirus). It slowly takes over the body as it ag

      • "...could eventually treat 'the underlying cause of hair loss.'" Eventually, as in, not in its current state. Probably the thought is if they can "reprogram" the cells now, they can eventually figure out what "reprogramed" them to stop producing hair in the first place.

        It's related to testosterone https://skinkraft.com/blogs/ar... [skinkraft.com]

      • In the interim, they will sell a lot of lab-grown hair!

    • Male-pattern baldness is a mystery from an evolutionary standpoint. Apes would get skin cancer if they went bald on top, because the top gets the most sun. Thus, the trait must have evolved recently along with the invention of hats. And the fact it's so prevalent, among different ethnic groups* suggests there is strong selective pressure for the trait. A trait that recent and that widespread means there is strong evolutionary pressure at work, but nobody has identified the actual force.

      It's probably not for

  • Great for actors... (Score:3)

    by demonlapin ( 527802 ) on Wednesday January 19, 2022 @09:34AM (#62187435) Homepage Journal
    I'm mostly bald and don't care. I don't comb over, I cut it short (#3 guard in summer, #4 in winter). Embrace it. Yep, I'm bald, check out my sexy head. If you have thinning hair - maybe this is relevant. Frankly, this is a lot easier than having hair. And it doesn't seem to bother my wife - and from accounts of single men I know, most women don't care, as long as you make it look good. You think The Rock would have trouble getting a date because he has no hair? Bruce Willis?

    • I'm mostly bald and don't care. I don't comb over, I cut it short (#3 guard in summer, #4 in winter). Embrace it. Yep, I'm bald, check out my sexy head. If you have thinning hair - maybe this is relevant. Frankly, this is a lot easier than having hair. And it doesn't seem to bother my wife - and from accounts of single men I know, most women don't care, as long as you make it look good. You think The Rock would have trouble getting a date because he has no hair? Bruce Willis?

      Same here. Embrace it!

      Started getting my hair cut where my wife does - they take more precautions and are less crowded - and I am forever having to tell them that no, I don't want to do anything about it. Just cut it nice and short.

      • Anyone who's married and sexually imprisoned (monogamous) doesn't get a say in this *angry face*. You can apparently all go old, obese, bald, and boring and it doesn't seem to matter as long as you leave an inheritance.
        • All too many women don't want to wait for the inheritance. Wait until the guy has paid for the kids' upbringing, divorce him and sue for everything that's left plus a monthly alimony that leaves him too poor to hire a new lawyer.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Kokuyo ( 549451 )

      Money > hair.
      Fame > hair.
      Muscles > hair.
      I don't think that counts as an argument.

      Those who are afraid of getting bald, and I'm sorry to have to make this assumption, seem to feel they are lacking in jsut about every other department to get this riled up over it.

      • Pretty much. If you're fat, bald, poor, and boring, lack of hair is not your biggest problem.

      • > seem to feel they are lacking in jsut about every other department

        They just put on some fat and grow a goatee to look 'badass'.

        High-value women see this a mile away. There's no substitute for chasing excellence.

    • Women care WAY less about balding than men think.

      If you're under 30 and balding, shave it.
      30-40, and balding, keep it short.
      40+, you seriously won't care anymore.

      Don't, however, EVER take Propecia. That shit will lower your testosterone, crush your sex drive, and give you erectile disfunction. And the effects are PERMANENT. Even after you stop taking it, it never goes away.

      • Shaved was really unpleasant. I was always cold. But short-cropped is great.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by jbengt ( 874751 )
        Years ago I saw an ad for Propecia, I wasn't paying attention and they started listing side effects like impotence, gynecomastia, breast cancer, etc., so I thought, that drug must be for some serious medical problem. Then I saw that it was for baldness. WTF! Who'd risk those side effects just for a little hair on their head?

        • The literature says the side effects go away if you stop taking it. So why not give it a try?

          Because that's a lie. For a substantial portion of men who try it, the effects are permanent.

          Well, the hair you saved falls out after stopping it, but you'll never keep a boner again.

        • Apparently a lot of people. So it's reasonable to believe that many people will be glad to have this lab-grown hair surgically implanted!
        • Propecia is relabeled finasteride, which was developed to shrink enlarged prostates. Propecia to regrow hair was introduced 5 years after finasteride hit the market.
      • I've been taking Propecia for 2 years now and it works and I have jack squat side effects.

    • Are you The Rock or Bruce Willis? I.e. a famous millionaire movie star? Me neither.

      I'm also bald and don't stress over it, just put a lot of effort into working out, eating properly and dressing neatly. But I have a somewhat weird head shape that would definitely look better with hair. If I could reasonably get the hair to grow, why not?

      • Hard to name people that others would know without resorting to celebrities. Lack of hair is one of the least important things about mens' looks. A 6'4" guy with no hair and a little muscle tone will beat a 5'10" guy with perfect hair and a gut every time.

        • Hard to name people that others would know without resorting to celebrities. Lack of hair is one of the least important things about mens' looks. A 6'4" guy with no hair and a little muscle tone will beat a 5'10" guy with perfect hair and a gut every time.

          The number one turnon for women seems to be height. Almost always the first item on their eligible male list. And as a 6 foot guy, I was at the very bottom of my wife's acceptability list. At least according to dating apps and tiktok.

          Considering the stats on male height, they're pricing themselves out of the market in this modern never settle market.

          • Oh, for sure. I'm six feet myself, you can practically use me as a measuring stick - but if I were on dating apps, I'd call myself 6'1" at least. Dumbest idea ever. You're just eliminating tons of great guys. Then again, if you're that superficial about it, you'd better have natural DD boobs, a tiny waist, and a serious interest in whatever my kinks may be.

            • Oh, for sure. I'm six feet myself, you can practically use me as a measuring stick - but if I were on dating apps, I'd call myself 6'1" at least. Dumbest idea ever. You're just eliminating tons of great guys. Then again, if you're that superficial about it, you'd better have natural DD boobs, a tiny waist, and a serious interest in whatever my kinks may be.

              If I'm not mistaken, A woman who wants a 6 foot 4, handsome, buffed guy making 6 figures salary minimum 6 figures, is just showing she has proper standards.

              A man who says he prefers slender women is a raging misogynist.

              Now between us, there are evolutionary reasons for the ladies standards. The qualities she is looking for at one time were related to the fitness of a male. Today it is a train wreck, because women have tended to be attracted to that "bad boy" stereotype. This often leads to them being

              • Yeah, when a 5 can demand a 7 in looks, an 8 in height, and a 9 in money before she'll see you... she isn't going to be getting a lot of dates that lead anywhere other than a one-night stand. But AIUI most of the "women" on dating sites are fake, so...

                • Yeah, when a 5 can demand a 7 in looks, an 8 in height, and a 9 in money before she'll see you... she isn't going to be getting a lot of dates that lead anywhere other than a one-night stand. But AIUI most of the "women" on dating sites are fake, so...

                  BTW, there are a number of channels on Youtube that are mining TikTok's, as women are melting down, screaming, yelling, hitting their phones, and a few are experiencing almost psychotic breaks.

                  50 year old's still waiting for that "perfect guy" to show up. 30 year olds wondering why they aren't getting the attention they used to get, a lot of direct statements that they hate men. Then a second TikTok of the same woman crying about why no man commits to them. It starts out being amusing, but in the end, I k

                  • It's not even that they don't have any attraction to Beta Bob... they often do. It's just that Bad Chad over there is a much more entertaining Saturday night. And when Bad Chad gets bored of you, and Beta Bob has found Beta Betsy who isn't just trying to bang the hottest thing on two feet, yeah - you're out in the cold. Seen it numerous times.

              • Both standards are almost 100% cultural, not evolutionary. I.E. they differ depending upon where you grow up.

                That said, male standards are fairly consistent based on finding a woman with a good mind, while women focus on genetics.

                Most women are born a perfect ten, they have to work to maintain it. I.E. Born unabashedly a nudist, under 100 lbs, baby smooth skin. But they have to spend a lot of time and effort keeping the weight off while maintaining the skin. Then they have to learn how to use makeu

          • The number one turnon for women seems to be height. Almost always the first item on their eligible male list. And as a 6 foot guy, I was at the very bottom of my wife's acceptability list. At least according to dating apps and tiktok.

            Considering the stats on male height, they're pricing themselves out of the market in this modern never settle market.

            Standing on a big enough stack of cash makes you tall enough to pass the test...

            • The number one turnon for women seems to be height. Almost always the first item on their eligible male list. And as a 6 foot guy, I was at the very bottom of my wife's acceptability list. At least according to dating apps and tiktok.

              Considering the stats on male height, they're pricing themselves out of the market in this modern never settle market.

              Standing on a big enough stack of cash makes you tall enough to pass the test...

              In the post-wall stage, definitely. Money is sort of the modern version of the alpha male protector. But a woman who "settles" has a tendency to still find those bad boys kind of irresistible, and the modern unleashed all options are open versions of female empowerment often leads to using the beta male for his money, yet hunting and banging the bad boys on the side. The number of men who are raising other men's children (conceived while married to the woman) is a bit shocking. Polyamory will be the next d

    • You think The Rock would have trouble getting a date because he has no hair? Bruce Willis?

      Wife informs me The Rock - yeah she'd bang him. Bruce Willis is a pretender though. Not interested.

      That being said, she did have some issues with me going bald. Even though I wanted to go head shaved mode she said I'd look like a Tootsie Pop.

      • Oh, mine did too, at first. Her dad has a full head of hair and is almost 70. But I told her, my dad was bald, my grandfathers were both bald - I had a lifetime to get ready for this and it doesn't bug me. She was far more upset when my red hair turned brown than when I lost it.

        I knew she would hate the shaved look, so I did it one time after I dropped her off at a volunteer project. When I picked her up, she got in the car and then screamed in fright as she looked at me. Thought she'd gotten into a strang

        • Oh, mine did too, at first. Her dad has a full head of hair and is almost 70. But I told her, my dad was bald, my grandfathers were both bald - I had a lifetime to get ready for this and it doesn't bug me. She was far more upset when my red hair turned brown than when I lost it. I knew she would hate the shaved look, so I did it one time after I dropped her off at a volunteer project. When I picked her up, she got in the car and then screamed in fright as she looked at me. Thought she'd gotten into a stranger's car. I didn't like it either, so I just went for short after that, which seems to work for both of us.

          Hah! Related story - I shaved off my mustache once, and damn - talk about hot tongue and cold shoulder for dinner.

    • Sure, The Rock can get a date because HE IS The Rock-6'6", muscular, strong, and from what I can tell, a decent person. Even if he wasn't famous and just some regular guy like a construction worker, he still could get a date and into the pants of 90% of the women in any room he is in.

      Bruce Willis, even in old age, can get a date because he famous and rich.

      99% of men aren't The Rock or Bruce Willis.

      Most men are closer to Clint Howard.

    • and from accounts of single men I know, most women don't care, as long as you make it look good. You think The Rock would have trouble getting a date because he has no hair? Bruce Willis?

      There's no denying that a male with a full head of hair looks more youthful and vigorous.

      In most cases out of a line up, single women are going to pick the single guy with more hair (and better physique).

      Sure the Rock and Bruce Willis, even at his age, can get chicks...they are widely famous and wealthy.

      That's not what

    • A big problem is that IT "hates" older people, and baldness emphasizes your age among interviewers. It's not an industry that values long experience, for good or bad. (The reasons for STEM ageism are a long and winding discussion.)

      • I'm a doctor. There are a lot of awful things about my profession, but that isn't one of them. We aren't even hireable before 30 or so.

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by Tablizer ( 95088 )

          The human body doesn't overhaul itself every 10 years like IT stacks. (Much if it fads, or at least overdoing minor trends.) It would be like a doctor for Star Fleet, where you have to learn the anatomy of a new species every few months.

  • Elon (Score:3)

    by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Wednesday January 19, 2022 @09:41AM (#62187445)

    Elon Musk must know the secret. He's grown more hair as he's aged. https://pagesix.com/2018/07/25... [pagesix.com]

    • Came here to find out if it's cheaper than the existing option, which Elon has had. You can get your hair back if you want, it just costs as much as a 4-door sedan.

  • Might be significant to track how many anti-vaccine folks run out and get this as soon as possible.

  • All going according to plan. (Score:5, Funny)

    by TheNameOfNick ( 7286618 ) on Wednesday January 19, 2022 @09:55AM (#62187483)

    Prolonging erections, check. Conquering hair loss, check.

    • Ah Crud. I just had a flashback to the 2006 and the movie Idiocracy. A comedy, turned horror, turned documentary.

      " Narrator: The years passed, mankind became stupider at a frightening rate. Some had high hopes the genetic engineering would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources where focused on conquering hair loss and prolonging erections."
    • Just came here to see if anyone had beaten me to it. Well done, sir!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      I used to worry about hair loss, but then realized it was actually great. Save money on hygiene products, no need to even comb it in the morning or worry about hat hair. Once I learned how to speak like John Luc Picard the chicks were all over it too.

      Only downside is you need slightly more sunblock. I'll never be able to grow a chonmage either, so that's the end of my sumo career.

    • It's funny because it's true ( Rich Old Man Plan )

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Tablizer ( 95088 )

      ...empty wallet, check!

    • This is an *outrage*.

      As a full-haired male who expects to remain as such, I utterly oppose this insensitive appropriation of my follicular flamboyance!

      We must all stand up against this horrific exercise of bald privilege.

      hawk

  • Good evening. I also had problems with hair on my head, it was terrible. But I usually use dating sites. I often communicate with the guys here hull dating [gaysbonding.co.uk], because it is very convenient for me and I can immediately understand what kind of person he is and what plans he has for life. Are you looking for a serious relationship? I just haven't decided yet if I want a serious relationship or just flirting.

  • I've gotten quite used to my half-baldness. It runs in the family and I've had it since around 25. Since then it has only moved very slowly and I've been shaving my head for more than a decade now. Works for me. ... I do have to wear a buff, cap or hat when outside though. Most of the time that is. Mostly I wear buffs, have a collection of ~20 of them by now.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Tablizer ( 95088 )

      Pardon my ignorance, but what's a "buff"? Google is giving me contradicting results. It seems to be what's sometimes called a "beanie" or "beanie cap". Maybe different regions/nations use different words? There is a brand of beanie caps called "Buff".

  • wait til the body-modders get hold of this (Score:3)

    by zephvark ( 1812804 ) on Wednesday January 19, 2022 @10:28AM (#62187595)

    The less imaginative will probably go full monkey, or maybe angora plush. Tattoos will be passe when you can get a 3D body hair sculpture instead.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Lady Galadriel ( 4942909 )
      I had a similar thought, but worse. Imagine that they were able to use different colors as well as different maximum lengths. Even different textures.

      Someone wants to look a bit like a lion?
      Some ear mods, some yellowish long hair on the head, with full body "fur", and they are good to go. Oh, and don't forget the whiskers!

      Want to look a bit like you are from the Planet of the Apes?
      Same deal, except perhaps some base full tattooing to whatever species you are trying to emulate.

      Of course, this will he

  • No, it's low T & A.

  • Why? (Score:2)

    by PPH ( 736903 )

    Male pattern baldness is generally a sign of higher levels of testosterone. The cure has been known for hundreds of years as well. The castrati [wikipedia.org] did not suffer from baldness. Why would I want to eliminate a signal of my superior virility?

    • It's not as widely recognized but aging women do lose hair too. So that makes me question whether it's entirely a function of testosterone.
  • While it's true that this is mostly about vain, forty-something men who for some reason are ashamed of their chrome domes, for my granddaughters the stakes are higher. I'm sure there are many others for whom hair loss is not just about vanity but a devastating blow to their self-image. Kudos to these gents for apparently working diligently on a less-than-glamorous project.

  • This is Slashdot, so I didn't read the article.

    Is hair replacement news from MIT finally help for those of us that can't grow full beards very well? No amount of Unix seems to make my neck hirsute.

  • Started shaving it when a friend had a cancer diagnosis decades ago. Man-to-man emotionally-supportive mocking.

    I looked so good that I've kept shaving it ever since (headblade, btw, ftw).

    I'll certainly admit that while my original shave at age 23 was significant, my current shaving becomes less and less significant with each passing year!

    Driving a sporty convertible is WAY better without hair.

  • A cure for insulin shot dependent diabetes has been 10-12 years away for the last 30 years

  • Few centuries from now when we fly at Warp 10, instantaneously going light years, we still cannot cure bald. The irrefutible evidence is Captain Picard.

  • hair tomorrow!

    I hope it's real hair and not just "hair apparent"

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