SAN FRANCISCO - New research showing that bald mice can grow hair after being implanted with a type of stem cell could lead to an eventual cure for baldness according to a group of scientists.

According to Dr. George Cotsarelis, co-author of the study and a University of Pennsylvania dermatologist, the research marks the first time that "blank slate" stem cells were able to induce hair growth.

The study is to be released in April in the journal Nature Technology.

In an interview, Cotsarelis said: "We've shown for the first time these cells have the ability to generate hair when taken from one animal and put into another. You can envision a process of isolating existing stem cells and re-implanting them in the areas where guys are bald."

Many scientists have been researching whether hair follicles contain "blank slate" stem cells that can give most humans a full head of hair for life.

These stem cells differ from embryonic stem cells, whose use is controversial because embryos are destroyed in the process.

Biologists who study hair cautioned that a baldness cure is still some years away.

Stanford University biologist Anthony Oro cautioned, "Like with any stem cells, the amount of information needed to get us from a stem to a fully developed organ is a lot. It will require a lot of things to go right and we are still along way off."