A new study reveals how subtle interactions between cells and chemical signals may shape the intricate patterns of mammalian hair.

The precise arrangement of hair follicles across an animal’s skin may arise from a surprisingly simple process. Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have developed a mathematical model showing how cells responding to chemical signals can generate distinct hair patterns in two mammalian species, without requiring a complex system to determine where each follicle forms.

Published in PNAS, the research challenges a long-standing explanation for hair follicle development and suggests that variations in the same underlying cellular process could produce different patterns across species.