Over the past two decades, the science of genomics has come of age and led to a new era of 'Omics'-based research.
This approach brings together genomics, proteomics and metabolomics to map the entire biological system, illuminating new pathways to better skin and hair science for years to come.
Informing P&G research
While the application of 'Omics' science has just begun, the far-reaching impact of its application across beauty and grooming is already informing P&G's research and the company claims it is taking its innovations across the category in new and different directions.
" 'Omics' science is already helping us resolve some of the most complex and intriguing puzzles that still exist in beauty and grooming,” said Dr Jim Thompson, associate director, Biotechnology and Systems Biology, P&G beauty.
“Each puzzle we solve is not only expanding what we know but opening up new and intriguing future possibilities - not only for us as research scientists but also for the skin and hair products we all use everyday."
The New Science of 'Omics'
Where once scientists could only measure one gene or protein at a time, the latest 'Omics' tools now allow them to monitor 9.4m gene changes and hundreds of protein expression changes or metabolites in a single experiment with these tools.
- Genomics is the study of gene activity or 'expression' and describes how genes function, interact with one another and respond to environmental stimuli
- Proteomics studies proteins and the way they change as a result of gene activity
- And metabolomics, which studies how changes in genes and proteins impact biochemical processes within the cell.
Possible game-changer
"The 'Omics' revolution significantly changes the way we analyze, think about and experience beauty and grooming,” commented Dr Jay Tiesman, principal scientist, Global Biotechnology Division, P&G.
“It changes the rules of the game and gives us an unrivalled insight into the complete map of our biological processes, opening up possibilities that will help us solve the molecular puzzles of beauty and grooming science."
As it looks to extend its efforts in this area, the Ohio-based consumer goods giant recently partnered with the Institute for Systems Biology to bring deeper insights into skin biology, targeting aging issues as one of its key focus areas.
Beyond collaborations with external institutions, P&G says it has combined 'Omics' with advanced human skin cell models to identify solutions to help older skin appear more like younger skin, and is looking into the possibility of using the application to develop understandings of hair care.