Scientists Identify Hair Loss Gene
Hair loss is a common problem faced by both men and women. While it may not have health implications it does have self-esteem issues. Help may be on the way for some of those yearning for that full head of hair. After six years of research, an international research team headed by scientists at the University of Bonn have identified a gene that is responsible for a rare hereditary form of hair loss known as Hypotrichosis simplex.
The scientists are the first to identify a receptor that plays a role in hair growth. They now hope that their research findings will lead to new therapies that will work with various forms of hair loss.
“Although Hypotrichosis simplex is very uncommon, it may prove critical in our search for an understand of the mechanisms of hair growth,” says project leader Dr. Regina Betz from Bonn’s Institute of Human Genetics, summing up the research results. The disease is inherited and affects both men and women. Sufferers generally begin to go bald during childhood. The process of hair loss (alopecia) then advances with age, especially around the scalp.
The cause of Hypotrichosis simplex in the form examined in this project is a genetic defect. It prevents certain receptor structures on the surface of hair follicle cells from being correctly formed. It has been found that when messengers from outside bind to these receptors they trigger a chain reaction in the cell interior, which is apparently needed for the hair follicle to function normally. Such a receptor that plays a specific role in hair growth was previously unknown to scientists.
Source: University of Bonn
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If I read this right, this specialized gene only represents a very small part of the total sum of hair loss sufferers. Although it is a improvement and can help the cause of hair loss I don’t see this to be a real breakthrough that it is reported to be.
I think genetics and genes are researched to be a big thing. It is not about a little inheritance which we know in these days. On othe other day, i I have been reading a snippet on Genes and I wondered to know that genes always have the information that where they belong to. We can change their state as marked On or OFF with which they can behave different respectfully.
i think that everything was prepared in our genes. it is like our fate.but we can slow down the rate of hair loss.