Genetic Variation in the Human Androgen Receptor Gene Is the Major Determinant of Common Early-Onset Androgenetic Alopecia

June 2005 in “ American Journal of Human Genetics ”

Axel M. Hillmer, Sandra Hanneken, S. Ritzmann, Tim Becker, Jan Freudenberg, Felix F. Brockschmidt, Antonia Flaquer, Yun Freudenberg-Hua, Rami Abou Jamra, Christine Metzen, Uwe Heyn, Nadine Schweiger, Regina C. Betz, Bettina Blaumeiser, Jochen Hampe, Stefan Schreiber, Bernhard T. Baune, Hans Christian Hennies, Johannes Schumacher, Peter Propping, Thomas Ruzicka, Sven Cichon, Thomas F. Wienker, Roland Kruse, Markus M. Nöthen

androgen receptor AR gene androgenetic alopecia AGA genetic variation polyglycine-encoding GGN repeat exon 1 X-chromosomal location maternal inheritance GGN repeat X-chromosome

TLDR Genetic variation in the androgen receptor gene mainly causes early-onset hair loss, with maternal inheritance playing a key role.

This study from 17 years ago found that genetic variation in the androgen receptor (AR) gene is the main factor in the development of common early-onset androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The study analyzed a large number of genetic variants covering the AR locus and suggests that a polyglycine-encoding GGN repeat in exon 1 is a plausible candidate for conferring the functional effect. The X-chromosomal location of AR stresses the importance of the maternal line in the inheritance of AGA.

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Research cited in this study

8 / 8 results

research Genetic Basis of Male Pattern Baldness

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Early hair loss may indicate risk of insulin resistance.

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169 citations , June 1998 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

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Men with enlarged prostates often have more severe baldness.

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Common baldness is likely inherited through multiple genes, not just one.

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in Satire 109 upvotes 2 years ago

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community UPDATE: The theory that explains everything. Please help me make this big!

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research Genetic Variation in the Human Androgen Receptor Gene Is the Major Determinant of Common Early-Onset Androgenetic Alopecia

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Genetic variation in the androgen receptor gene mainly causes early-onset hair loss, with maternal inheritance playing a key role.

research Different Phenotypes in a Family With Androgen Insensitivity Caused by the Same M780I Point Mutation in the Androgen Receptor Gene

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