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Nature Genetics 40, 1269–1270 (1 November 2008) | doi:10.1038/ng1108-1269

A glorious revolution in stem cell biology

Bruce A Morgan

The hair follicle undergoes cycles of growth, degeneration of its lower segment and quiescence referred to as anagen, catagen and telogen, respectively. The regeneration of the lower follicle is thought to be achieved by the activation of a subset of comparatively quiescent label-retaining cells (LRCs) that reside in a characteristic position in the permanent segment of the follicle adjacent to the attachment site of the arrector pili muscle known as 'the bulge' (Fig.