'Bald gene' association found --A cure for baldness is one step closer

[BigBearJohn]

'Bald gene' association found

“A cure for baldness is one step closer after scientists found two genes that dramatically increase the chance of hair loss in men,” the Daily Express reported. It said that tests in over 1,125 men have revealed that men who have two genetic variants are seven times more likely to lose their hair. The newspaper reports that around 14% of men carry both genetic variants, a third of men suffer from baldness by the age of 45, and 80% of cases are thought to be caused by genetic factors.

This genetics study has confirmed the association of the AR gene with male-pattern baldness (it is located on the X chromosome and therefore inherited down the female line). The study also identified a variation within chromosome 20 that also seems to be associated with the condition. However, the variations on chromosome 20 are not located within a gene (a region of DNA that contains instructions to make a protein), therefore determining how or why these genetic variants could affect male-pattern baldness requires further research. It is hoped that this discovery could lead towards new treatments for hair loss, but any potential treatments remain a long way off.

Where did the story come from?

J. Brent Richards from the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, and colleagues from various international academic institutions carried out this research. The study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline, deCODE Genetics, the Wellcome Trust, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, the Chronic Disease Research Foundation, and the Sixth Framework Program of the EU. The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, Nature Genetics.

What kind of scientific study was this?

This was a case-control, genome-wide association study into male-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia).

The first part of the study involved Swiss men who were randomly selected from an area of Switzerland between 2003 and 2006. The researchers selected 578 men with early onset alopecia and 547 control men without alopecia, and took DNA samples from them. The researchers used the DNA to look at single changes in the nucleotide sequence (the building blocks of DNA), known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs – the different variants that can occur are known as alleles). The researchers looked at those SNPs that occurred significantly more often in the men with early onset alopecia compared to those without it. This screening included looking at SNPs in the region of the androgen receptor (AR) gene, which is located on the X chromosome (i.e. passed down to men from their mothers) and is known to be associated with male-pattern baldness.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/10October/Pages/Baldgeneassociationfound.aspx

[ananda]

1. This is so crazy.

Baldness is not a disease.

I really hate looksism.

Every time I watch an American tv show
these days, all I'm looking at is plastic.

[girl gone mad]

2. They do the same thing with shortness..

which is even worse since healthy children are taking $30,000 a year growth hormone injections to maybe be an inch or two taller.

People obsess over the dumbest things.

[Regret My New Name]

3. Well, I know if I could prevent it I would rather not be bald...

I don't think I would do anything too crazy though...

[pnwmom]

5. It's not a disease, but it sure makes boys feel miserable

when it starts in the teens.

[Codeine]

7. Perhaps not a disease

but it sucks mightily and can really do a number on one's self-image.

[opihimoimoi]

4. Too Late for McLoser

[Book Lover]

6. "Cure" implies a pathology

And baldness is not a pathological condition. The correct word is "treatment"

Not quibbling with you, just the article title. And the feelings of millions of men, apparently.

[Cheap_Trick]

8. I prefer being bald.

I usually keep my head shaved.

[deutsey]

9. A "cure"?

I had no idea I was afflicted with a malady in need of curing. :eyes:

As a guy with male-pattern baldness, I can't see why it's such a big deal to some guys.