Genetic Hair Loss More Likely to be Passed on By Fathers

added 13th March 2015

New research has revealed that genetic traits are more likely to be passed on by fathers than mothers, so hair loss may well be inherited from the male side of the family.

Published in the Nature Genetics journal, an American study into imprinted genes found that we inherit similar amounts of DNA from each parent. However, those that are inherited from our fathers are more likely to be actively used. This is particularly important as it is the first study to discover that mammals are more genetically similar to their fathers than their mothers.

“This is an exceptional new research finding that opens the door to an entirely new area of exploration in human genetics”, explains Professor Fernando Pardo-Manuel de Villena, from University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “We know there are 95 genes that are subject to this parent-of-origin effect. They’re called imprinted genes, and they can play roles in diseases, depending on whether the genetic mutation came from the father or the mother. Now we’ve found that in addition to them, there are thousands of other genes that have a novel parent-of-origin effect.”

Three species of mice with different genes who were descended from a sub-species of mice that evolved on different continents were selected for use in this initial research. These mice then reproduced in captivity until nine new variations of offspring were produced. In turn, this generation of mice then bred another generation of mice. Researchers examined all the mice once they were adults, and used RNA sequencing technology to identify and trace back every gene expression in their brains. By doing this they were able to determine whether these were inherited from their mother or father.

Test results found the mice had far more genetic impressions in common with their father, confirming the increase in paternal genetic mutations.

Lead researcher, Professor de Villena noted: “This expression level is dependent on the mother or the father. We now know that mammals express more genetic variance from the father. So imagine that a certain kind of mutation is bad. If inherited from the mother, the gene wouldn’t be expressed as much as it would be if it were inherited from the father. So, the same bad mutation would have different consequences in disease if it were inherited from the mother or from the father.”

This insight means that further studies can now be carried out into how diseases and conditions connected to genetic mutations – such as genetic hair loss – come about, which could prove significant in areas including cancer research. It may also help to further our understanding of Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss, as well as potentially leading to the development of more advanced, highly targeted hair loss treatments.