Baldness, or alopecia areata, is something that people have been dealing with since the history of the human species, over the years people have grown accustomed to its inevitability and have accepted it as a part of aging, and a part of life. However, according to researchers from Columbia University, baldness is not something we all have to accept. Researchers have linked the cause of hair loss to eight specific genes in humans. They found out that people who carry at least 16 or more alopecia-associated genes will be at a higher risk of hair loss. To the researchers delight, and honestly, a very convenient coincidence, the exact same genes have already been linked to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. "This greatly accelerated our ability to think about new drugs for these patients, since so much work has already been done for the other two diseases." Said Dr. Angela Christiano of the Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
From the findings of these eight genes, geneticists will finally be able to cure something so common and simple. For some people balding is very depressing and eventually people wont have to wear awful wigs anymore. I think this discovery will be very helpful in the future and people like Donald Trump wont have to look so ridiculous anymore.The study itself was posted in the July issue of the Journal of Nature.
Male pattern baldness has been a cause of depression and concern for many men, myself included. A lot of men go bald very early in life. My cousin Louie, for example, is 19-years-old, and already his hairline is beginning to recede. For a young person, this can be very stressful. Nobody wants to look like George Costanza from "Seinfeld."
ReplyDeleteIf there is someway to isolate the genes that are responsible for baldness, and come up with a solution to the problem, it would be highly profitable for the person responsible. If the genes share something in common with rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, I would think there is a way to, maybe not cure, but at least least slow down the process or lessen the severity of baldness. It would seem that this is a huge step in the right direction because researchers have narrowed down the possibilities of what actually causes this problem in men. This way researchers aren't like a blind person trying to find a needle in a haystack. I hope there is a solution on the horizon.
as a future geneticist, this article excites me. i knew that baldness was genetic somehow, but i think it's pretty awesome that it is linked to the same genes as two other already well-researched diseases. maybe researchers for baldness, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis can all get together and figure out a cure or treatment for all three!? wouldn't that be something? haha
ReplyDeleteI really liked this post, baldness is a depressing thing for many men, it would be awesome if they could some how link all three diseases together and come up with a cure.
ReplyDeleteBaldness does not only affect men but women also. This can have a huge impact on one's self esteem. Maybe there is hope for the future in unlocking the cause of this.
ReplyDeleteBaldness, thats really funny. But hey its cool that there is going to be a cure soon. I know when i am older i don't want to be bald. But i like how they use the genes to find out if you will be a baldy or not. Very neat..
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