Pattern Baldness: Its Genetics Revisited

The 1983 document challenges the traditional view that pattern baldness is caused by a gene that is dominant in males and recessive in females. It suggests that pattern baldness is influenced by a single dominant gene that requires androgens, specifically testosterone, to manifest. The paper points out that while men typically produce enough testosterone to exhibit baldness, women generally do not, which explains the lower prevalence of pattern baldness in females. The document also introduces the concept of using salivary testosterone measurements as a more accurate method to assess biologically active testosterone levels. The authors propose that pattern baldness should be considered a sex-influenced trait rather than a sex-limited one, and they emphasize the importance of revising scientific explanations as new evidence emerges.