MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: Is it possible to permanently change the texture of one's hair?

Date: Wed Aug 31 13:46:09 2005
Posted By: Dave Williams, Dean of Science
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 1125359766.Gb
Message:

Check 900697373.An

Quote:

To change naturally straight hair into naturally curly hair you would 
need to do one (or maybe both) of two things: 

* Alter the biochemistry of the hair follicle so that more disulfide 
bonds are formed as the hair grows (that is, make the follicle 
chemistry more oxidizing). 

* Alter the genes of the hair follicle so that more methionine and/or 
cysteine is incorporated into the keratin of the hair.

End quote.

To the best of my understanding, the incorporation of disulfide bonds 
depends less on biochemistry of the follicle and more on the exact 
location of the amino acid cysteine and other amino acids that may 
affect the shape of the shaft (round = straight; elliptical = curly; flat = 
very curly, sometimes called kinky) in the protein poly peptide. I'm 
guessing that not all keratin is exactly the same. The location of the 
amino acids would have a genetic determination. To the best of my 
knowledge, the technology to alter the genes that produce the hair 
structure is not yet available (but don't give up hope :-)


Current Queue | Current Queue for General Biology | General Biology archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on General Biology.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@madsci.org
© 1995-2005. All rights reserved.