Posted on 05/26/2009 3:12:32 PM PDT by smokingfrog
Chinese scientists have found the genetic marker for congenital generalized hypertrichosis terminalis (CGHT), a disorder that is often referred to as “werewolf syndrome.” Those who suffer from the hereditary disease are typified by thick, dark hair that grows all over the body and face. They may also have “a broad, flat nose, large ears, a large mouth, and thick lips, and, occasionally, an enlarged head and jaw.” [Science] Other than the fact that it is hereditable, the source of the disorder has been a mystery until now.
The fact that it is so highly hereditable points to a likely suspect: genes. But the disease is so rare (Science reports that there are only 30 known cases in all of China’s population of one billion), that studying it can prove difficult. Scientists at Peking Union Medical College in Beijing were up to the task, however, and have spent four long years trawling through medical data and the Internet to find some common link between the known suffers of the disease.
In the end, they found three families willing to participate in the study. More long experiments were to follow, including the compilation of the entire genome for 16 family members afflicted with the disease and 19 family members who did not have CGHT to use as comparisons. After careful work, the offending section of DNA was narrowed down to chromosome 17, where scientists found copy number variations. This type of variation is marked by large repeats of DNA sequences or the lack of said repeats. In the case of CGHT, there was a missing portion of DNA across four genes. That DNA was intact for the 19 unaffected family members.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
I’m sure there’s some silver bullet of a cure out there for it, now that we know what causes it.
The fact that it is so highly hereditable points to: there's hope for anyone.
IBTHTP
BTTT
“His hair was perfect...”
Is he “gonna get a big plate of beef chow mein?”
“...draw a Bud...”
HA!!
Yea but he had this nasty habit of tearing our lungs.
Well now that I am an OLDER lady I find that I am hairy all over. Not a pretty sight. LOL
Was he drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vic’s?
it’s all good. it’ll be covered under P-BO’s “univeral health care”.
15 posts and no Helen Thomas picture??
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