Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: smart on 04/10/2017 11:17:54

Title: Can you grow stem cells from the hair of someone?
Post by: smart on 04/10/2017 11:17:54

Is it possible to grow stem cells from hair in order to make genetically-compatible medicine for the host?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Can you grow stem cells from the hair of someone?
Post by: diverjohn on 04/10/2017 21:15:57

Not from the hair; it is mostly protein. But if there are skin cells hanging onto the bulb of the hair, as it would be if plucked from the head instead of cut from the scalp using scissors, then these could be used.

Title: Re: Can you grow stem cells from the hair of someone?
Post by: smart on 05/10/2017 10:52:58

Quote from: diverjohn on 04/10/2017 21:15:57

Not from the hair; it is mostly protein. But if there are skin cells hanging onto the bulb of the hair, as it would be if plucked from the head instead of cut from the scalp using scissors, then these could be used.

I agree. Thanks for writing and welcome to the forum, @diverjohn .

Title: Re: Can you grow stem cells from the hair of someone?
Post by: evan_au on 05/10/2017 12:05:09

Once the hair grows, the cells lose blood supply, and are all dead; you can extract DNA, but it is damaged.
You would need to have living cells (like from the hair root).

You would also need to treat them to revert to become stem cells that can be used for multiple purposes (not just producing hair).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cell