'Bearded lady' mutation uncovered

WASHINGTON: New research published yesterday shed light on the genetic underpinnings of a bizarre syndrome - first exhibited by a mid-1800s bearded lady - that has fascinated the public for centuries.

The case of bearded Mexican-born woman Julia Pastrana in the mid-1800s was the condition's first appearance in medical literature, noted Chinese researchers whose study was published in the May 21 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Researchers uncovered the specific genetic mutations that underlie congenital generalized hypertrichosis (CGH), a condition that spurs excessive hair growth over the entire human body.