World Hair Research

Yes and no. Genetics do play a role by causing a predisposition or a susceptibility to hair loss in individuals. However, saying something is genetic does not mean it is caused by one gene alone.  It is becoming evident the susceptibility to hair loss is driven by multiple genes, not just one. Thus what we consider male pattern baldness is Polygenic.

As more discoveries in the human genome were made researchers began to see previously unknown genetic complexities that played a role in the inheritance or manifestation of AGA.

As of March 2008 only one gene was identified to be related with AGA: “The origin of AGA is genetic, with the X chromosome located androgen receptor gene (AR) being the only risk gene identified to date.” [8] Quickly after, by September 2008, a better understanding of the polygenic nature of AGA was acquired: “Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common heritable polygenic disorder whose genetics is not fully understood, even though it seems to be X-linked.” [16]
Based on current knowledge, we can define AGA by saying that inheritance of AGA traits is polygenic, meaning the inheritance has many, or several, different sources of origin.

Written on July, 22 2010

Comment:

Polygenic is a better word to associate with male pattern baldness than Androgenic since research found non-androgen dependent pathways involved with male pattern baldness. I am also of the opinion that genetics only play a role but do not determine the outcome. Research does show that environmental factors can trump genetics, they can trigger genetics, alter genes or prevent the expression of certain treats. Exercise, a good diet, a clean environment, a good mindset, and healthy gut flora all contribute to optimal health and can trump genetic predisposition.

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-::- Note: The below is published here for archival purposes -::-

Healthcare: DNA Testing vs. Diet and Exercise

Contributions of genetic alleles to disease are useful for understanding, but not in predicting disease. Diet and lifestyle are the major determinants of disease and not genes for most common diseases.

OTC Genetic Screening Kits

A recent headline touted the availability of a kit at Walgreens to screen for “predisposition” to a hundred common diseases. A few months earlier, scientists admitted that after lengthy examination of a dozen major diseases, the genetic contribution was negligible. It may now be possible to cheaply (less than $25,000) determine the sequence of the entire genome of an individual or even more cheaply test for the presence of particular genetic alleles, but that information is useless compared to diet for predicting if the person will actually get the disease. The screening kits were pulled before they reached the shelves.

Gut Flora Dominates Gut Genotype

I think that the reason why an individual’s genes don’t dominate health issues, is because the composition of meals dominates the development of the gut flora community and it is the interaction between the gut and its bacteria that dominates health. The genes of the individual are just not that important in determining disease.

You Are What You Ate

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