Our lack of fur compare to other ape is a long - lasting closed book in biological science . There are several hypotheses to explain the reasonableness behind our lack of fuzz , but so far we have little evidence to go on . While the why continue cryptical , the how is getting clearer .
In a novel study , release in the journalCell Biology , researchers have key that the teemingness of a certain protein determines hair growth on paw . If the protein , called Dickkopf 2 or Dkk2 , is in low abundance ( like in cony and frigid bears ) , the plantar part is full of fuzz . In mice , who have lilliputian pilus on their hand , Dkk2 was present in higher amounts .
The squad proposed that the protein might be blocking a specific signaling footpath , bonk as WNT , responsible for the growth of hair . To test this , the researchers mastermind shiner to not produce Dkk2 . These animals developed fur on their plantar skin , but the fur there was thinner , shorter , and more at random spread out than the rest of the animals ' hair . The protein distinctly play an important role , but it is not the full characterization .
“ Dkk2 is enough to preclude hair’s-breadth from growing , but not to get disembarrass of all control mechanisms . There ’s a lot more to look at , ” co - fourth-year generator Professor Sarah Millar , a dermatology expert from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania , told theSmithsonian . “ We have really long hair on our scalps and short hair in other regions , and we ’re hairless on our palm and the underside of our wrists and the sole of our feet . No one understands really at all how these divergence turn out . ”
Although these reflexion do n’t provide the full characterisation , they do unveil challenging clues about hairiness and phalacrosis . Researchers cogitate that the WTN pathway is cardinal , and the next whole step is to enquire what other proteins might be conquer this pathway . This could lead to a more complete picture of how we lost our pelt and even put up potential medical applications . It will for sure help in status like baldness or alopecia . It might also aid us empathize better sure skin condition such as psoriasis and vitiligo .
The mainstream possibility for why we lost our fur suggest we involve to better thermoregulate when we moved from shady forest into the hotter savanna , allowing us to track down during the day . Another indicate it reduced leech . It could be the “ aquatic emulator theory ” as well , which paint a picture that our ancestors waded and swam for food and fur was not ideal for that . It could even be multiple factors .
[ H / T : Smithsonian ]
