Ancestry DNA Traits - Hair Loss

[Matt62]

Has anyone else had a look at this preview?

I was particularly interested in reading the "hair loss report" which had a moderate confidence level.

It suggested I have a "low chance" of male pattern baldness but when I checked the 3 markers tested for this trait - I worryingly had two of them! 

The variations linked to hair loss are found in the HDAC9 and PAX1 genes, and near the AR gene.

I have GG at the AR (rs6625163) on chromosome X indicative of a decreased risk; AA at the PAX 1 (rs1160312) on the chromosome 20 indicative of an increased risk and GG at the HDAC9 (rs2073963) on chromosome 7 indicative of an increased risk.

Two out of 3 terrifies me - so why do they put it at "low chance"?

Apparently 6 out of 10 ancestry kits with my genotype did not have balding, 4 did.

So how should I interpret these results?

[DavidG02]

I don't know the DNA answer but I can supply the genetic answer. Look at the hairline of your maternal grandfather. ie your mums dad. That is your hairline.

( may not be true in all cases but I sure have scared my son )

[Matt62]

I don't know the DNA answer but I can supply the genetic answer. Look at the hairline of your maternal grandfather. ie your mums dad. That is your hairline.

( may not be true in all cases but I sure have scared my son )

Can't do that in my case I'm afraid, never knew the guy 

[lizdb]

So how should I interpret these results?

Buy a hat 

And just accept who you are.

[Matt62]

So how should I interpret these results?

Buy a hat 

And just accept who you are.

 

Well, at least your looking at the practical side of things lol!

(I actually have a thick head of hair at present!)

[mikechristopher]

one of my brothers and myself match the hair dna traits from our maternal grandfather - both bald!.  However my other brother (half brother different father) does not match so seems like he inherited from his paternal side.

[lizdb]

My sons hair is going just the way of his Dads.  I am sure he would much rather take after his maternal grandfather who still had a reasonable amount of hair when he died at 94, or his paternal grandfather who had a full head of hair when he died at 90.

[Matt62]

one of my brothers and myself match the hair dna traits from our maternal grandfather - both bald!.  However my other brother (half brother different father) does not match so seems like he inherited from his paternal side.

I think its a very random process.

Even with the X chromosome we inherit from our mothers, we don't know how much of it comes from our maternal grandmother and how much from our maternal grandfather.

If you consider my DNA results, 6 out of 10 men sharing my genotype aren't bald, 4 are - so there must be other factors at play, including other genes that haven't been analysed and so account for our differences.

[Matt62]

From my report on the Ancestry DNA Traits:

Our report is based on your genotype at three well-studied markers linked to hair loss in the HDAC9 and PAX1 genes, and near the AR gene.

The AR gene on the X chromosome, one of two sex chromosomes, is believed to affect the body’s sensitivity to the hormone DHT. The interaction of AR with the HDAC9 gene on chromosome 7 and PAX1 gene on chromosome 20 have been linked to male pattern baldness, though exactly how or why they cause hair loss is unknown.

I don't have the AR gene (I have a decreased chance on my X chromosome) but do have increased variants on the other two markers (autosomes).

Apparently its a multifactorial and polygenic trait influenced by the interaction between a number of different genes, hormones and environmental factors.

Quite confusing actually and way more complicated than the popular myth of it just being from the maternal grandfather!