People have complicated relationships with hairy skin moles. For some, they symbolize individuality and good fortune. For others, a bothersome blemish. Maksim Plikus, a professor of developmental and cell biology at the University of California, Irvine regards these mounds of wild-growing hair as islands of knowledge. His curiosity and astuteness compelled him to look closer at a biological anomaly that others overlooked. “Nothing exists for no reason. There is some really interesting biology hidden in everything,” Plikus said.
Skin moles are common growths that contain clusters of melanocytes, the skin’s pigment producing cells. These melanocytes are senescent1—they are old and no longer reproduce. Cellular senescence is generally considered a harbinger of infirmity and biological uselessness. But Plikus and his colleagues recently discovered that the senescent melanocytes in hairy moles may be a hair follicle fountain of youth.2
There is some really interesting biology hidden in everything.– Maksim Plikus, University of ...
