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Glossary wool

natural fiber from sheep's fleece, rich in keratin

Wool is a natural fiber obtained from the fleece of sheep and other animals, such as goats and alpacas. It is composed primarily of keratin, a protein that also makes up human hair, and is known for its crimped texture, which provides excellent insulation and elasticity. Wool is widely used in textiles for its warmth, durability, and moisture-wicking properties.

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research Disruption of P2RY5, an orphan G protein–coupled receptor, underlies autosomal recessive woolly hair

210 citations , February 2008 in “Nature genetics”

This study found mutations in the P2RY5 gene that are linked to autosomal recessive woolly hair in Pakistani families, implicating it in hair texture determination.

research Biology of the wool follicle: an excursion into a unique tissue interaction system waiting to be re‐discovered

117 citations , November 2006 in “Experimental Dermatology”

This review explores the biology of wool follicles and suggests their potential use as research models in modern biology, but it reports no new findings.

research Comprehensive transcriptome and methylome analysis delineates the biological basis of hair follicle development and wool-related traits in Merino sheep

112 citations , September 2021 in “BMC Biology”

This study found that specific gene expressions during different stages of hair follicle development in Merino sheep are linked to wool-related traits, and may also be relevant to human skin, metabolic, and immune traits.

research Wool Keratin-Associated Protein Genes in Sheep—A Review

98 citations , May 2016 in “Genes”

This review explains the genetic diversity of sheep wool keratin-associated protein genes and explores how this variation might be leveraged for selective breeding to enhance wool fiber traits.

research Autosomal-Dominant Woolly Hair Resulting from Disruption of Keratin 74 (KRT74), a Potential Determinant of Human Hair Texture

97 citations , March 2010 in “The American Journal of Human Genetics”

A mutation in the KRT74 gene causes tightly curled hair.

research Expression patterns of keratin intermediate filament and keratin associated protein genes in wool follicles

95 citations , March 2009 in “Differentiation”

Gene expression in wool follicles changes with growth cycles, offering insights into wool and human hair growth.

research The Cytology and Cytochemistry of the Wool Follicle

90 citations , January 1979 in “International review of cytology”

This chapter reviews the complexity of hair and wool follicle formation, emphasizing the importance of cytological studies to understand the relationship between cellular components.

research A Missense Mutation within the Helix Initiation Motif of the Keratin K71 Gene Underlies Autosomal Dominant Woolly Hair/Hypotrichosis

78 citations , May 2012 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

A specific gene mutation causes woolly hair and hair loss.

research Structure and expression of genes for a class of cysteine-rich proteins of the cuticle layers of differentiating wool and hair follicles.

67 citations , December 1990 in “The journal of cell biology/The Journal of cell biology”

This study identified two evolutionarily conserved ultra-high-sulfur keratin proteins in human and sheep hair follicles, which are specifically expressed in the hair cuticle during the late stages of fiber development.

research Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis with Woolly Hair Caused by a Mutation in the Keratin 25 Gene Expressed in Hair Follicles

50 citations , February 2016 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

A mutation in the KRT25 gene causes a rare hair disorder with thin, woolly hair.

research CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated loss of FGF5 function increases wool staple length in sheep

47 citations , June 2017 in “The FEBS journal”

This study found that CRISPR/Cas9-induced loss-of-function mutations in the FGF5 gene significantly increased wool length and yield in genetically modified Chinese Merino sheep compared to wild-type controls.

research Identification of the Ovine Keratin-Associated Protein 22-1 (KAP22-1) Gene and Its Effect on Wool Traits

42 citations , January 2017 in “Genes”

This study observed that genetic variation in the ovine KRTAP22-1 gene is linked to increased wool yield and decreased fiber curvature in sheep, indicating its potential use in breeding programs.

Woolly Hair Nevus: A Rare Case with Late Onset in Adolescence

research Woolly hair nevus

40 citations , February 1990 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study presents the first reported case of woolly hair nevus appearing during adolescence, with significant improvement observed 5 years later and structural changes in the hair documented.

research Transcriptome Reveals Long Non-coding RNAs and mRNAs Involved in Primary Wool Follicle Induction in Carpet Sheep Fetal Skin

37 citations , May 2018 in “Frontiers in physiology”

This study identified key long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs involved in primary wool follicle induction in carpet wool sheep, emphasizing their roles in hair follicle development and skin processes.

research Influence of feed restriction on the wool proteome: A combined iTRAQ and fiber structural study

35 citations , April 2014 in “Journal of proteomics”

In this study, experimentally induced weight loss in merino sheep led to a decrease in wool fiber diameter and increased expression of certain high sulfur and glycine-tyrosine proteins, potentially impacting wool quality and industry preferences.

research A homozygous missense variant in type I keratin KRT25 causes autosomal recessive woolly hair

29 citations , July 2015 in “Journal of Medical Genetics”

This study identified a new gene involved in woolly hair by linking a homozygous variant in KRT25 to autosomal recessive woolly hair in two Pakistani families.

research Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes During a Wool Follicle Growth Cycle Induced by Prolactin

26 citations , December 1999 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

This study found that manipulating prolactin levels in New Zealand Wiltshire sheep induces wool follicle growth cycles, revealing gene expression changes that suggest roles for specific genes in follicle function.

research Polymorphisms of FST gene and their association with wool quality traits in Chinese Merino sheep

25 citations , April 2017 in “PloS one”

In this study, specific SNPs in the FST gene were significantly associated with various wool quality traits in Chinese Merino sheep, suggesting potential markers for breeding programs.

research Number changes and development potential of wool follicle cells in the early stages of fiber differentiation

22 citations , September 1982 in “Journal of ultrastructure research”

This study reports new cellular features and complex interaction systems in fiber differentiation, indicating more intricate cellular organization than previously recognized, including features like mast cells and primary cilia.

research Growth of wool follicles in culture

20 citations , February 1994 in “In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal”

Wool follicles can grow in a lab with the right nutrients and conditions.

research Variation in the ovine keratin-associated protein 15-1 gene affects wool yield

18 citations , September 2018 in “The Journal of Agricultural Science”

In this study, the presence of certain KAP15-1 gene variants in sheep was associated with differences in wool yield and fiber characteristics.

research Wool Fibres: Sectioning and Staining, Differentiation of Ortho and Paracortex

18 citations , January 1965 in “Stain Technology”

This study describes a double embedding technique for preparing tangential sections of hair and wool fibers, recommending specific staining methods for quantitative analysis and demonstrating wool fiber cortical fractions.

research The twisting tale of woolly hair: a trait with many causes

18 citations , January 2015 in “Journal of medical genetics”

This review discusses the genetic basis of woolly hair syndrome and its potential link to heart disorders, highlighting recent discoveries of new molecular pathways and suggesting possible future treatment options.

research Association analysis of polymorphisms in six keratin genes with wool traits in sheep

17 citations , November 2017 in “Asian-Australasian journal of animal sciences”

This study found that mutations in certain keratin genes significantly affect wool traits in Chinese Merino sheep, suggesting these genes could be important for sheep breeding to improve wool quality.

research A comparison of transcriptomic patterns measured in the skin of Chinese fine and coarse wool sheep breeds

17 citations , October 2017 in “Scientific reports”

This study found that Super Merino sheep have a higher wool follicle density, finer fleece, and distinct gene expression compared to Small Tail Han sheep, which may inform future breeding and genetic interventions.

research Seasonal changes in the morphology of wool follicles in Finewool and Strongwool Merino strains grazing at different stocking rates in southern Australia

17 citations , October 1997 in “Australian Journal of Agricultural Research”

This study observed that nutritional stress is likely responsible for changes in Merino sheep follicle morphology in Mediterranean environments, affecting staple strength and possibly requiring targeted management strategies.

research The Localization of Dehydrogenase Activity and Sulphydryl Groups in Wool and Hair Follicles by the use of Tetrazolium Salts

17 citations , September 1953 in “Journal of Cell Science”

This study found that the tetrazolium salt INT is the most effective for revealing dehydrogenase activity and certain histological structures in sheep and other mammals' skin.