Comments on: HairDX – Genetic Test for Male Pattern Baldiness

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:02:15 +0000

Gregory, Ann is correct. HairDX is looking at only one specific genetic variant located on the X chromosome. There are, however, more than one type of baldness and therefore more than one gene involved. If you were to experience some hair loss, it may be due to genes other than the one being examined by the HairDX genetic test.

Thanks for your comment and I hope you will grow to accept whatever kind of hair you have or will have. I can sympathize with you. I’ve been starting to get some gray hair myself and can’t say I’m too happy about it either!

By: Gregory

Gregory — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:54:23 +0000

Can anyone confirm this? Oddly enough the only two male members of my mothers side of the family have hair! (my grandfather and uncle). So if what they look at is solely genes inherited from the mother than this test is utterly worthless to me no?

By: Ann Turner

Ann Turner — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:08:07 +0000

Gregory –

As far as I can tell from the material on their website, HairDX is just looking at one gene, and it’s on the X chromosome. As a male, you only have one X chromosome, and it comes from your mother. Since you are looking at the paternal side, that test wouldn’t be relevant.

By: Gregory

Gregory — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:03:42 +0000

Can anyone help me? I am not very financially secure (college student), but I am extremely worried about losing my hair. All four males related to my father’s side of the family have started losing their hair before they turned 20 (my grandfather, uncle, father, and brother).

I just turned 21 and still have no visible signs of hairloss! I am extremely worried and actually went to see a dermatologist to ask if I could go on Propecia as a preventative measure. He said no and would not write me a prescription.

I was just wondering whether you think this test would be a worthwhile investment and whether it has anything of value to tell me. Thanks for your help.

By: Latest Launches at 23andMe

Latest Launches at 23andMe — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:17:28 +0000

[...] make your own informed decisions about what you’re going to buy into. For some, it could be a genetic test for balding. For others, it could be a $350,000 personal genome [...]

By: Gene Genie issue #24: Human genetics (Illumnia conspiracies and Eric Roberts too) provide a light in winter | biomarker-driven mental health 2.0

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 03:01:49 +0000

[...] hair), you may wish to forgo the 23andMe expense and put your money down elsewhere as Eye on DNA reports that men can obtain an highly predictive genetic test for baldness. Whew, I’m glad my wife did not know about this test before we were married (and my genetic [...]

By: Ann Turner

Ann Turner — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:46:49 +0000

And I thank you for posting so many interesting stories. My interest in SNP testing has ratcheted up considerably since 23andMe and deCODEme came on the scene, and I find it helps my learning curve when I have concrete examples to study.

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:41:22 +0000

Thanks for the comment and link to SNPedia, cariaso!

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:40:46 +0000

Anything you say, Rick!

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:33:27 +0000

Hi Ann, It’s an honor to have you commenting here! Thank you for the great information. Now I feel so lazy for not having done enough research before posting.

I wasn’t too impressed with the HairDX website what with the many spelling errors and overstatements. They need to tone it down unless they’re going for the infomercial crowd.