During their study, the researchers investigated over 500,000 positions in the human genome, and found a gene variant which occurs clearly more frequently in bald men than in control persons. In 2005, these scientists had already characterized the first hair-loss gene inherited through the maternal line, which explained why hair-loss in men often reflects that of their maternal grandfathers. Two positions frequently displayed a clear correspondence with baldness in these men a clear indication that the genes located at those points were involved in hair-loss. These results also throw interesting light on the inheritance of baldness in that hitherto the only known risk gene for the androgen receptor lay on the X-chromosome, and was thus inherited from the mother which accounts for the fact that in the case of hair-loss men often take after their maternal grandfathers. The Life & Brain Zentrum is a new research centre of the University Clinic in Bonn, which is dedicated to practically orientated research into the causes of disease. read more

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