A New Locus for Hereditary Hypotrichosis Simplex Maps to Chromosome 13q12.12-12.3 in a Chinese Family

In 2010, a study involving a four-generation Chinese family with 30 individuals, including 14 affected by hereditary hypotrichosis simplex (HHS), identified a new genetic locus for this rare form of nonsyndromic alopecia on chromosome 13q12.12~12.3. The researchers used genome-wide screening and linkage analysis to map the disease-causing gene, narrowing it down to a 9.57 cM region. Although no disease-causing mutations were found in the candidate genes, the discovery of the new locus is significant for understanding the genetic basis of hair growth and could inform future research on common hair loss conditions. The study was supported by Chinese foundations and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.