In the December 4th issue of Cell Stem Cell, Canadian scientists from the University of Toronto, J. Biernaskie et al., reported their ability to isolate multipotent skin-derived precursors (SKPs) from Sox2+ adult hair follicle cells. The study revealed that both the SKPs and Sox2+ hair follicle dermal cells were very similar with respect to their transcriptome. The investigators also reported that the two cell populations have similar functional properties with respect to their ability to home to the hair follical niche, predisposition to inductive signals for hair morphogenesis, and the ability to differentiate into different dermal cell types. Additionally, SKPs were found to self-renew in vitro and serially reconstitute hair follicles in vivo. Grafting experiments showed follicle-associated dermal cells were able to migrate from their follicular niche and contribute to dermal maintenance and wound-healing. The authors concluded that "SKPs derived from Sox2+ follicle-associated dermal precursors and display functional properties predictive of a dermal stem cell, contribution to dermal maintenance, wound-healing, and hair follicle morphogenesis."