Gene That Causes Woolly Hair Revealed

In 2008, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center identified that mutations in the P2RY5 gene are responsible for hereditary woolly hair, marking the first time a G-protein-coupled receptor gene has been linked to a human hair disorder. The study involved six Pakistani families. In related research, a study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine involving 12 patients showed that curcumin was ineffective in treating psoriasis, suggesting a placebo effect. Another study by Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine indicated that the acne medication 13-cis retinoic acid induces apoptosis in sebaceous glands, which could lead to new acne treatments. Additionally, the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that ivermectin is completely effective against head lice that are resistant to standard treatments.