Rare disease that causes partial Supatra Sasuphan face covered by the hairs like wolf fur. Recently, researchers have discovered a genetic disorder that causes the disease.
Medical world to know this disease with werewolf syndrome or Hypertrichosis. Because of scarcity, syndromes caused by chromosomal mutation that only affects less than 100 people in the world.
The researchers examined the location of mutation changes experienced by people with this syndrome in Mexico on the X chromosome (one of two chromosomes in the human genome).
Apparently, they found that this is hereditary. Usually people with men will be covered with feathers on the face and eyelids. Meanwhile, female carriers are usually covered with feathers on its body.
Professor Xue Zhang, an expert in genetics from the Peking Union Medical College, also has been testing a person with this disease and found that genetic abnormalities on chromosome X.
Genetic abnormalities found later also on the X chromosome that are owned by people living in Mexico. However, abnormalities of genes found in people is different in China.
However, the extra DNA on their X chromosome that may also trigger active genes around her hair grower.
Pragna Patel, scientists from the University of Southern California estimates that the culprit is a gene abnormality in this gene called SOX3, which is known to be responsible in hair growth.
"In fact, additional sequences that stuck (on chromosome X), can trigger hair growth," said Patel on research findings published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
However, Patel added, it can also be used for research in order to get treatment for diseases of baldness or hirsutism (excess hair growth).
