Sheep's wool
From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Introduction
Sheep (Ovis aries) have been selectively bred to continuously produce single coated wool fleece rather than coats composed of an outer hair layer and an inner wool layer. True wool, as opposed to hair, is characterised by its high follicle density in the skin, small diameter, and high crimp (waviness) [1]
Genetic origin of Wool
The modern wool-producing domestic sheep differs from the ancestral sheep in that it has a single woolly coat and does not shed.[2]
References
- ↑ [Emma K Doyle, James W V Preston, Bruce A McGregor, Phil I Hynd, The science behind the wool industry. The importance and value of wool production from sheep, Animal Frontiers, Volume 11, Issue 2, March 2021, Pages 15–23, https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfab005]
- ↑ Ryder M. A survey of European primitive breeds of sheep. Ann Genet Sel Anim. 1981;13(4):381-418. doi:10.1186/1297-9686-13-4-38
Edited by Isaac Yu, student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 116, 2024, Kenyon College.
