Posted on 03/02/2009 5:20:04 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Stanford, CA (AHN) - European scientists have found that four enzymes cause hair to turn gray. The breakthrough findings introduce leads on how to stop hair from graying.
The researchers from the Universities of Bradford, Mainz and Luebeck, whose findings are published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology's journal, found that lack of the enzyme catalase causes the build up of hydrogen peroxide, which blocks the production of the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase produces melanin, the hair's natural pigment.
There is also a reduction of repair enzymes A and B preventing hair follicles from repairing the damage caused by the build up of hydrogen peroxide.
"This discovery is a major breakthrough in the understanding of hair greying and opens up some novel ideas to combat this scenario. These are being followed up at the current time in our laboratory," said lead researcher, Karin Schallreuter, a professor of clinical and experimental dermatology at England's University of Bradford.
Thank you!
In a study by Muscarella and Cunnhingham, males and females viewed 6 male models with different levels of facial hair (beard and mustache or none) and cranial hair (full head of hair, receding and bald). Participants rated each combination on 32 adjectives related to social perceptions. Males with facial hair and those with bald or receding hair were rated as being older than those who were clean-shaven or had a full head of hair. Beards and a full head of hair were seen as being more aggressive and less socially mature, and baldness was associated with more social maturity. A review of social perceptions of male pattern baldness has been provided by Henss (2001).
Other evolutionary hypotheses include genetic linkage to beneficial traits unrelated to hair loss and genetic drift.
Baldness is not only a human trait. Some other primates, such as chimpanzees, stump-tailed macaques, and South American uakari show progressive thinning of the hair on the scalp after adolescence. Adult stump-tailed macaques, in fact, are commonly used in laboratories for the testing of hair-regrowth treatments.
Muscarella, F. & Cunningham, M.R. (1996). “The evolutionary significance and social perception of male pattern baldness and facial hair.”. Ethology and Sociobiology 17 (2): 99–117. doi:10.1016/0162-3095(95)00130-1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldness#Evolutionary_theories_of_male_pattern_baldness
I think that genes play a large role in hair turning gray. My mama is almost 69
years old and she has very little gray hair. She had cancer and had chemo. It all came back in the same color as always. I think I have inherited that trait as well.
“No, it is being married to a Liberal Husband who likes Bill Clinton, thinks the United Nations does good in this world and is an Al Gore-Global Warming believer.”
I don’t think any rational, conservative jury would convict you on homicide charges if those were the facts in the case, LOL!
Everything you ever wanted to know about Rudy Giuliani’s comb over.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rudy+giuliani+comb+over&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0s&oq=
I remember Letterman ran a clip once of Rudy walking out side and the wind caught his combover. It looked like the top eighth of his head was coming off.
Hair? What’s hair?
That is where the Two Shades of Preference: Clairol’s Perfect 10 - Shade 5 - Mocolotive and Revlon’s Colorsilk - 34 - Deep Burgundy, come in handy!!!!!/Just Asking - seoul62......
Who said that you could rain on my parade?
I’m a Natural Instincts ‘Sunflower’ gal, myself. :)
You are lucky. I had a relative who in his late nineties had all of his hair and only a few gray hairs.
I hope mine turns white and not gray or at last a pretty silver.
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