In a controlled study, researchers observed that lambs exposed to colder temperatures had increased wool growth, thicker skin, altered physiological traits, and activated specific molecular pathways, highlighting potential targets for enhancing cold tolerance, welfare, and productivity in sheep breeds.
November 2025 in “Veterinary and Animal Science” This study found that both dark and white dromedary camels exhibited high medullation in hair fibers, suggesting adaptations for insulation and heat dissipation in hot desert environments.
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June 2023 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” This study found that human scalp hair significantly reduces solar radiation intake, with more tightly curled hair offering greater protection against heat gain compared to a naked scalp.
December 2025 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” This paper introduces the Vertex Overload Framework for androgenetic alopecia, suggesting that chronic mechanical and thermal stress on the vertex contributes to hair follicle miniaturization, with androgens acting as co-mediators of stress adaptation rather than isolated causes.
February 2024 in “BMC genomics” This study identified a gene variant in the TRPV3 gene that may explain the suri alpaca phenotype, characterized by longer and less crimped fleece, suggesting this variant's involvement in the development of these hair characteristics compared to the huacaya phenotype.