Congenital Generalized Hypertrichosis Terminalis (CGHT) is a rare condition in which the majority of one’s body, including the face, is covered in hair. Some colloquially refer to it as ‘wolf man disease.’ Until now it wasn’t exactly clear what caused the condition. However, a study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics suggests that large scale DNA changes may be the cause. By looking at the DNA of people with the disease and their unaffected relatives, scientist noticed that those with CGHT were missing some 500,000 to 900,000 DNA bases on chromosome 17. As well, in one patient there was an additional 1.4 million DNA bases on the same chromosome. It’s still unclear how these large scale changes lead to the condition. However, researchers say that understanding its genetics will likely help those with other conditions characterized by excessive hair growth or loss. Read more.
Tags: congenital generalized hypertrichosis terminalis, DNA, Genetics, hair, wolf ma
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.