€ 185
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Laminin necklace | 18K gold vermeil
Some people spend their working lives on the thin layer that holds our cells in place. This laminin necklace in 18K gold vermeil is a gift for the cell biologist, tissue engineer or dermatologist in your life, or for a biology graduate who still remembers the lecture where she first met it.
Who It's For
- your sister, when she graduates in biology
- a cell biologist who grows her cells on laminin-coated dishes, when her paper is accepted
- a dermatologist or tissue engineer, for her birthday
- someone who wears the collagen necklace in gold vermeil and would like its partner in the matrix
- yourself, if gold vermeil is what you wear every day
“It was the perfect gift for my sisters graduation!” (Conner H., from a review of the silver version)
The Protein That Keeps Skin Attached
Your outer layer of skin does not simply rest on the layer below. It is fastened to it, and one form of laminin, laminin-332, is part of the fastening. It links the bottom row of skin cells to the thin basement membrane beneath them. When a child inherits a faulty gene for one of its three chains, that link is weak. The skin can blister and tear from the lightest rub. Doctors call the condition junctional epidermolysis bullosa, and children with epidermolysis bullosa are sometimes called butterfly children, because their skin is as fragile as a butterfly's wing.
Explore Related Cell Biology Jewelry
- laminin necklace | silver
- collagen necklace | gold vermeil
- membrane necklace | gold vermeil
- mammalian cell necklace | gold vermeil
FAQ
How big is the pendant, and what chain comes with it?
The pendant is 31 mm (about 1.2 inches), a little larger than a 2-euro coin. It hangs upright from a single loop at the top and sits just below the collarbone. The chain is 45 cm (17.7 inches) of gold vermeil with a lobster clasp and a 5 cm (2 inch) extender. 18K gold vermeil means 2.5 microns of 18K gold over solid sterling silver, nickel-free and hypoallergenic.
Is there a silver version?
Yes. The laminin necklace also comes in sterling silver, at the same 31 mm on the same 45 cm chain with a 5 cm extender, and sits just below the collarbone in the same way. Choose the finish the recipient already wears: the design is the same in both.
Is delivery free, and what if it isn't right?
Yes. DHL Express delivers free in 1-5 business days worldwide, and we pay the import duties and taxes, so nothing is due at the door. It arrives in a ready-to-gift jewelry box and festive envelope. If it isn't right, our 30-day “Love It or Return It” policy applies.
How was new skin grown for a boy with this condition?
In 2015 a seven-year-old in Bochum, Germany, had lost about 80% of his outer skin to junctional epidermolysis bullosa, caused by a fault in LAMB3, one of the three laminin-332 genes. His doctors sent a small patch of his skin to Michele De Luca's team in Modena, who corrected the gene in its stem cells and grew sheets of new skin in the lab. Surgeons grafted them over most of his body. The new skin held, and the results were published in Nature in 2017.
Cellular Biology
Step into the fascinating world of cellular biology through our unique jewelry designs. These pieces serve as wearable reflections of life's microscopic wonders, capturing the aesthetics of DNA strands, cellular formations, and more. Far from simple adornments, they spark dialogue and honor the captivating complexities found within biological research. Merging scientific accuracy with artistic flair, each creation offers a tactile experience that bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and aesthetic appreciation.
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Necklace length guide
