Growth of hair depends upon hair follicles and scientists have identified a gene that leads to growth of hair. Hair is important part of your body and they are needed for physical protection, regulation of temperature, social interaction and for seasonal camouflage. Hair is formed in hair follicles,which are complex minute organs in the skin and are meant specially for this purpose.
During development of fetus all hair follicles are formed. New hair is formed in hair follicle through continuous phase of growth, rest and recession though out your life. The duration of growth phase determines the length of the hair for example the growth phase of scalp hair can proceed up to many years while the growth phase of eyebrows lasts for a few months.
Generally hair formation is ceased after the growth phase then hair follicle recedes and enters into the rest period. New period of growth starts when the period of rest gets over. During that period old hair are shed off from your body. The cause of this complex regulation of hair is not known but it is suggested that this might be due to adjustment of hair growth to various seasons.
Research team of Carlsson identifies an important regulator in hair formation known as Lhx2 gene. During the period of growth gene Lhx2 is active and become inactive during resting phase of hair follicles. Researchers have shown that gene Lhx2 is involved in hair formation because when hair follicles that have inactive Lhx2 gene could not produce hair.
Moreover they found that activation of gene Lhx2 in hair follicles activates the growth phase and ultimately hair formation. So gene Lhx2 is an important gene for regulation the growth of hair. The researchers have shown that gene Lhx2 is necessary for structuring and growth of follicles of hair.