The Naked (N) Mutation, Chromosome 15

    August 2020
    John P. Sundberg
    Studysummary This article describes the "naked" mouse mutation, which results in hair loss and is linked to chromosome 15, noting similarities and differences with human ectodermal dysplasia, but provides no new experimental findings.
    Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
    The naked (N) mutation in mice, discovered at Latvia University, resulted in homozygous mice lacking a hair coat and heterozygous mice losing their initial hair coat between 10 to 14 days of age. This mutation was linked to the velvet coat (Ve) mutation on Chromosome 15, aiding in the identification of mouse keratin genes. Although the naked mutation resembled the human condition hydrotic ectodermal dysplasia, the amino acid changes in hair differed between species. Similar hereditary alopecia was observed in certain dog breeds, such as Miniature poodles and Cocker Spaniels.
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