Editor's Evaluation: Complementary Evolution of Coding and Noncoding Sequence Underlies Mammalian Hairlessness
March 2022
TLDR Hairlessness in mammals is due to complex genetic changes in both genes and regulatory regions.
The study by Kowalczyk et al. explores the genetic basis of hairlessness in mammals by analyzing the genomes of 62 species, identifying both known and novel hair-related genetic elements. They found that genes associated with hair structure, such as KRT2, KRT35, PKP1, and PTPRM, and noncoding regions near regulatory genes like mir205, ELF3, and FOXC1, show accelerated evolution in hairless species. This suggests that both coding and noncoding sequences contribute to hairlessness through different mechanisms. The study's insights could inform future treatments for hair loss and enhance understanding of convergent evolution.
