Scientists identify genes that lead to gray hair, beard thickness and unibrows

[Eugene]

Source: New York Daily News

Scientists identify genes that lead to gray hair, beard thickness and unibrows

BY ALEJANDRO ALBA NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Tuesday, March 1, 2016, 4:41 PM

Scientists have finally identified the source of gray hair.

A new study of the genomes of more than 6,000 Latin Americans helped scientists identify, for the first time, the specific genes that lead to gray hair, unibrows and beard thickness. The study, published in the |journal Nature Communications, focused on a population with a mixed ancestry of European (48%), Native American (46%) and African descent (6%).

One of the genes identified was IRF4, which produces melanin, the pigment that determines hair color. The other two genes associated with hair thickness and unibrows are FoxI2 and PAX3.

Andres Ruiz-Linares, a biosciences professor at University College London and a co-author of the paper, said that gene information could be of interest to the cosmetic industry.

"Identifying these genes puts forward targets that the industry might want to exploit," he said.

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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/scientists-identify-genes-lead-gray-hair-unibrows-article-1.2549431

[hollysmom]

1. seriously, wouldn't we be better off accepting body hair and not needing these products?

I say this as someone who does not have to deal with these problems as a blonde who never had to shave her legs. Or as an older person who has not understood the need to look like a 12 year old. I am so old. sigh.

[Gregorian]

2. And all these years I've been calling them monobrows.

Maybe that's the British slang.

[Xipe Totec]

3. I remember a Carol Burnett skit based on Gone With The Wind

Where Carol plays Scarlet O'Hara with a prominent unibrow.

As Harvey Korman playing Rhett Buttler holds her in his arms, he asks:

"Have you ever thought of having your eyebrows plucked?"

To which Scarlet replies:

"I used to have two eyebrows, but I plucked the top one off."

[longship]

4. This post needs some Frida Kahlo!

By Diego Rivera: