Posted on: October 10, 2008
British and German scientists performed detailed analysis of 500,000 variable sites in the genomes of males suffering from severe hair loss. Upon their analysis, scientists showed that two new sites in the genome are frequently associated with baldness. Interestingly, one of these regions of the genome contains gene for the androgen receptor. Androgens and androgen receptor are already strongly implicated in pathogenesis of male pattern alopecia.
Up to date, this recent research uncovered only second region of the genome that has strong genetic associated with premature hair loss. Previous research identified hair loss risk region of the genome on X chromosome, indicating that hair loss can be inherited from the mother. This accounts for the fact that often men inherit hair loss from their maternal grandfathers. However, the newly discovered gene lies on chromosome 20, and can be inherited from either the mother or the father.
Currently, scientists perform additional analysis of identified region to establish particular genes it might contain as well as the role of these genes in normal and pathological hair growth.
These studies are published in 2008 edition of journal Nature Genetics and Nature Genetics, 2 |
|
|
|
