561-Evolutionary of Mammalian Rete Ridge Formation
This research identifies rete ridges as a unique type of mammalian skin appendage that develops through molecular pathways distinct from those governing hair follicles and sweat glands. By comparing various species, including humans, pigs, and dolphins, the study reveals that these ridges enable a significantly thicker epidermis, which likely evolved as a defensive adaptation in animals with reduced hair density. Unlike other skin structures that form during embryogenesis, rete ridges appear postnatally and are maintained by a specialized microenvironment known as a dermal pocket…
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