Losing hair? Blame Sox21 gene

TOKYO: Experiments on mice have revealed a gene that is linked to early hair loss, a Japanese researcher said yesterday, sparking hopes for a treatment to prevent thinning and baldness in humans.

The research team found that the absence of a gene known as Sox21 - which it said is shared by humans and mice - can lead to early hair loss.

The scientists biologically engineered mice by blocking the gene and found that the rodents started losing hair on their heads about 15 days after birth and became completely naked a week later.