Nerve Cells From Hair Follicles

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A popular science piece from ScienCentral recaps recent research into neural regeneration via adult stem cells: "In their first experiments, they tried to, according to Hoffman, 'convert the hair follicle stem cells into brain cells in the laboratory.' ... Then we knew there was a real relationship between the hair follicle stem cells and the brain stem cells. ... From there they worked with mice with injured nerves. 'We injected these hair follicle stem cells into the area where the nerve or the spinal cord is severed [and] found that the nerve or spinal cord could be regenerated because we injected these hair follicle stem cells' ... they must still do a lot of testing, over several years, with mice before they'll be ready to see how this might apply to people."

Link: http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392754