@conference {42003,
	title = {Culture of ovine keratinocytes : An experimental model for wool growth},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {326-331},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {Wool fibres are formed from the germinative epithelium, a population of keratinocytes at the base of wool follicles. In order to test the function of candidatewool growth genes and pharmaceuticals, we have developed methods to isolate and maintain these cells inculture. Pure, clonal lines of ovine keratinocytes were isolated from both vibrissae and wool follicles. Vibrissa-derived cells proliferated more extensively before senescing, but cells from both follicle types possessed ample proliferative potential for further experimentation. Standard assays have been established to quantify keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis in culture. Differentiation of keratinocytes could be induced by maintaining them at high density for a week. Keratinocytes expressed differentiation markers for epidermis and inner root sheath. Expression of a chosen gene could be up-regulated by transfection with a liposome-borne plasmid. A transfected plasmid encoding a fluorescent reporter protein was expressed in 68-100\% of cells. Similarly, expression of a gene of interest could be suppressed by RNA interference. The experimental tractability of these keratinocytes suggests that they will be a valuable model for investigating the cell biology and molecular genetics of wool growth. The methods described form a unique experimental system to identify leads for new technologies that improve wool production.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Rufaut NW and Goldthorpe NT and Craven AJ and Wallace OAM and Wildermoth JE and Pedersen G and Nixon AJ}
}
@conference {42006,
	title = {Expression of the developmental regulators Msx1 and Msx2 in sheep skin varies with body region and wool growth pattern},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {345-350},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {The variability of fibre characteristics affects the processing performance of wool and therefore the value of the wool clip. These variations originate during development in utero, and manifest as patterns of fibre growth that differ between body regions. Two transcription factors, Msx1 and Msx2, have previously been linked to regional specification within the skin and alsoact as regulators of differentiation within the hair follicle matrix. In this study, we describe the expression patterns of Msx1and Msx2in multiple body sites of foetuses and adult crossbreed ewes. In foetal skin, the expression of both Msx1and Msx2was greatest in the regions of lower eventual follicle density. In adults, both anterio-posterior and dorso-ventral gradients were observed in Msx1expression across the fleece bearing skin. Higher concentrations of Msx1and Msx2transcripts were present in adultsthan foetuses, possibly reflecting  additional roles in regulating the differentiation and growth of the wool fibre shaft. These results are consistent with the involvement of Msx1 and Msx2 in the development of skin regions, wool follicle growth, and anterio-posterior and dorso-ventral gradients of wool characteristics in sheep},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Craven AJ and Rufaut NW and Scobie DR and Nixon AJ}
}
@conference {41628,
	title = {The biological basis of variation in sheep{\textquoteright}s fleece cover},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {66},
	year = {2006},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {124-129},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Napier},
	abstract = {Selective breeding has been used for thousands of years to improve the quality and weight of wool, but surprisingly there is still a large amount of geneticvariation present at the loci involved in the {\textquotedblleft}blueprint{\textquotedblright} for wool synthesis. This genetic heterogeneity results in considerable variation within, and between individual fleeces. This has both positive and negative implications. Where a wool processor requires uniformity in raw stock, both to gain efficiency in processing and to make a product to specification, it has a negative effect. Where specific traits convey unique properties it opens up opportunities for differentiated products. Markers for genes or knowledge of individual gene effects may be useful for identifying sheep with desirable wool traits that are difficult or expensive to measure under field conditions. The discovery of genetic variation in valuable fibre traits could allow the development of gene-marker tests which would assist breeding for more consistent wool.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Scobie DR and Nixon AJ and Rufaut NW}
}
