Research undertaken in Australia has located the first gene candidate for the hair loss condition that affects millions of men worldwide namely Male Pattern Baldness. The researchers saw that a variant type of the androgen receptor gene was present in 98% of younger men who had premature balding as well as over 90% of older balding men.

The researchers however also noted that the Stu1 gene variant type of this androgen receptor does not actually alter the structure of the receptor and they also saw that the variation was seen in almost 77% of men who had a full head of hair during the study. This led the researchers to note that tissue specific abnormalities of the androgen receptor were not alone sufficient to make you go bald.

The research while not conclusive and definite led the scientists to believe that mutations in or near to androgen receptors are very likely to be the cause of MPB and the hair loss problem is probably caused by a mix of several genes including the androgen receptor.

Androgens are a type of hormones which are responsible for growth of the male reproductive system and the most relevant androgen is testosterone that is produced in a man's testicles. Interestingly male pattern balding never occurs in castrated men as they can't produce the testosterone that eventually turns to DHT in the scalp that in turn kills hair follicles.

The success of Propecia the hair loss drug is down to the finasteride in it that can actually block the creation of the androgen DHT so that baldness is prevented. Research shows that higher levels of the androgen receptor are located in the front and vertex scalp areas where balding traditionally occurs and that androgen levels are normal in the areas of the scalp where there is no loss of hair.