Molecular basis of congenital atrichia in humans and mice.

The document reviewed the molecular genetic approaches used to understand the pathophysiology of dermatologic disorders, particularly focusing on congenital atrichia, a rare inherited hair loss disorder in humans, and its corresponding mouse models, hairless and rhino. It highlighted the importance of identifying the genes involved and understanding how mutations lead to the disorder's phenotype. The insights gained from these studies were expected to pave the way for gene-based therapies, potentially offering effective treatments for various hair loss disorders, including more complex conditions like alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia.