Introducing Sox21 — The hair loss gene

According to a May 26 article in the Telegraph, science is another step closer to finding a cure for hair loss.

Researchers at the National Institute of Genetics in Tokyo, Japan identified a genetic precedent for hair loss — specifically, a gene linked to the body's ability to retain hair (Sox 21). The discovery was made during experiments with mice that were genetically "programmed" without Sox 2. They displayed total body hair loss just 15 days after birth. Researchers believe the same gene is the cause of thinning hair in humans.

This new insight on the cause of hair loss can be big. Sure, it MAY pave the way for finding the cure for hair loss, but a more reasonable first step would be the ability to accurately target people who are predisposed to hair loss so that treatment can begin early on.