  Including the new HERA data, the $\gamma^* p$ total cross section is analysed
in the generalized vector dominance/colour-dipole picture (GVD/CDP) that
contains scaling in $\eta = (Q^2 + m^2_0) / \Lambda^2 (W^2)$, where $\Lambda^2
(W^2)$ is an increasing function of $W^2$.
  At any $Q^2$, for $W^2 \to \infty$, the cross sections for virtual and real
photons become identical, $\sigma_{\gamma^* p} (W^2, Q^2) / \sigma_{\gamma p}
(W^2) \to 1$. The gluon density deduced from the colour-dipole cross section
fulfills the leading order DGLAP relationship. Evolution \`a la DGLAP breaks
down for $\eta \lsim 0.1$.
