Mother’s genes may determine hair loss, after all
I’ve always wondered whether it was an old wive’s tale that hair loss and baldness is determined by the mother’s side of the family. Apparently there is some real scientific evidence to back up the claim that our moms may be to blame for our lack of hair. Here’s a quote from Dr. Gio E. Dimayuga, of the Philippine Dermatological Society:
“If the hair loss gene is on the mother’s side, it is likely that most, if not all, the male children will have thin hair or suffer hair loss. But if the hair loss gene is on the father’s side – the children have a 50/50 chance (or even less) of developing baldness,”
According to the article, a specific gene for hair loss has been observed in patients who are balding. There is some sort of correlation between whether the mother or father passed the gene down. Although the piece isn’t too detailed, it’s still interesting to know that doctors are looking into issues like this. Who knows if it will turn into any useful scientific evidence or not.
http://www.mb.com.ph/HLTH2006092575373.html