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Genetic origin of ‘werewolf syndrome’ discovered
examiner.com ^ | May 26, 2009 | Meg Marquardt

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cght; dna; genetics; werewolfsyndrome
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1 posted on 05/26/2009 3:12:32 PM PDT by smokingfrog
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To: smokingfrog

I’m sure there’s some silver bullet of a cure out there for it, now that we know what causes it.


2 posted on 05/26/2009 3:15:46 PM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Spock didn't need a teleprompter)
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To: smokingfrog
The fact that it is so highly hereditable points to a likely suspect: genes

The fact that it is so highly hereditable points to: there's hope for anyone.

3 posted on 05/26/2009 3:17:57 PM PDT by heartwood
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To: smokingfrog

IBTHTP


4 posted on 05/26/2009 3:18:21 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: heartwood

BTTT


5 posted on 05/26/2009 3:18:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: smokingfrog

6 posted on 05/26/2009 3:18:59 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: PetroniusMaximus

“His hair was perfect...”


7 posted on 05/26/2009 3:19:28 PM PDT by dfwgator (1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
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To: PetroniusMaximus

www.rickmeyerowitz.com


8 posted on 05/26/2009 3:24:09 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("Mr. President, I support you but not your mission. I'm showing my patriotism through dissent.")
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To: dfwgator

Is he “gonna get a big plate of beef chow mein?”


9 posted on 05/26/2009 3:24:12 PM PDT by I-ambush (I didn't think, I never dreamed, that I would be around to see it all come true-McCartney and Wings)
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To: dfwgator

“...draw a Bud...”


10 posted on 05/26/2009 3:24:46 PM PDT by Apercu ("A man's character is his fate" - Heraclitus)
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To: dfwgator
"'His hair was perfect...'"

HA!!
Yea but he had this nasty habit of tearing our lungs.

11 posted on 05/26/2009 3:26:51 PM PDT by Landru (Arghh, Liberals are trapped in my colon like spackle or paste.)
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To: smokingfrog

Well now that I am an OLDER lady I find that I am hairy all over. Not a pretty sight. LOL


12 posted on 05/26/2009 3:29:11 PM PDT by buffyt (Obama administration isn't SNAFU, it is AFU !!!!)
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To: dfwgator

Was he drinking a Pina Colada at Trader Vic’s?


13 posted on 05/26/2009 3:36:30 PM PDT by justapicker (I don't want the cheese, I just want out of the trap)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

it’s all good. it’ll be covered under P-BO’s “univeral health care”.


14 posted on 05/26/2009 3:39:13 PM PDT by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
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To: dfwgator

15 posted on 05/26/2009 3:40:45 PM PDT by petercooper (1/20/13 - Change I can believe in.)
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To: petercooper

15 posts and no Helen Thomas picture??


16 posted on 05/26/2009 3:42:34 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (I agree with Rick..)
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To: PetroniusMaximus
They may also have “a broad, flat nose, large ears, a large mouth, and thick lips, an enlarged head and jaw, and occasionally refered to as First Lady.”
17 posted on 05/26/2009 3:42:55 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( Don't mess with the mockingbird! /\/\ http://tiny.cc/freepthis)
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To: HereInTheHeartland

18 posted on 05/26/2009 3:43:55 PM PDT by petercooper (1/20/13 - Change I can believe in.)
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To: petercooper

19 posted on 05/26/2009 3:50:29 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( Don't mess with the mockingbird! /\/\ http://tiny.cc/freepthis)
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To: smokingfrog

20 posted on 05/26/2009 4:17:23 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ( Obama, you're off the island!)
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