A cure for baldness 'could be available in 5 years'

London, Dec 16 (ANI): For the first time, scientists in Germany have grown hair follicles from stem cells.

The feat has brought scientists a step closer to creating a cure for baldness, reports the Daily Express.

The study used cells taken from animals, but researchers hope to create human hair follicles from human stem cells within a year.

Stem cells are the body's master cells. With manipulation in the lab, they can be grown into any tissue in the human body from blood to bone and even whole organs.

Although stem cells are seen as the holy grail for medicine, progress has been slow and very few treatments are widely available.

However, Professor Roland Lauster at Berlin's Technical University believes his work could be a step towards providing treatment for the 80 per cent of people who suffer from hair loss worldwide - such as the comedian Harry Hill and football legend Sir Bobby Charlton

Lauster claims the treatment - which would probably require the hair follicles to be implanted on to the head - could be available in five years. (ANI)