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		interactions that give rise to the hair follicles. To ensure that Tbx-2is located in the vibrissa pad, RNA will be isolated and analyzed for the Tbx-2 mRNA. It seems logical that if the mRNA exists in the hair follicle, then the protein that it codes for will also exist in the hair follicle. The main question is: what is the role of TBX-2 on hair follicle development? One way to elucidate its role is to manipulate its expression in the developing whisker pad. Antisense:Antisense is a complementary copy of the functional mRNA normally found in the cell (Klug). When antisense is introduced to the cell, it can bind to the functional sense mRNA, thus forming a double stranded mRNA molecule (Gilbert). The formation of a double stranded molecule affects mRNA translation either because of inhibition of ribosomal functioning due to the complementary strand (no binding or stopped translation) or because of RNases that degrade the double stranded RNA (RNase H) (Klug). Rationale:The expression of Tbx2in the mouse vibrissa pad needs to be confirmed. By using analysis of mRNA expression in the mouse whisker pads, it can be shown whether or not Tbx2specifically expressed in the vibrissa pad although previous experimental data leads to the assumption that it is, indeed, expressed in the whisker pad. To determine the role Tbx2plays in whisker pad development, antisense oligonucleotides (small pieces of antisense RNA) will be