<figure class="fr-image-container fr-full"><img srcset="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/21578/hairless-dog-s.webp 480w, https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/21578/hairless-dog-m.webp 660w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 480px, 660px" src="https://cdn.discovermagazine.com/assets/image/21578/hairless-dog-s.jpg" title="hairless-dog.jpg" loading="lazy" data-id="21578"><figcaption class="fr-figcaption"></figcaption></figure>Researchers have discovered the <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/tag/genetics/" title="">gene</a> that determines the baldness of several hairless <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/tag/dogs/" title="">dog</a> breeds, and say it may<div class="vert-display-toggle collapsible relative flex flex-col items-center "><div class="vert-unit mt-4 mb-3 top-20"><div ad-type="mobile-desktop" class="ad-wrapper vert min-h-boombox flex items-start justify-center" data-ad-mapping="inline" data-ad-slot="Discover/inline-ad" id="div-inline-ad-0"></div></div>Advertisement</div> offers new insight into the development of skin and hair in other animals – including humans [<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14711-when-being-bald-and-ugly-is-the-lesser-of-two-evils.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&amp;nsref=news4_head_dn14711" title="">New Scientist</a>]. Mexican hairless, Peruvian hairless and Chinese crested dog breeds all share the same mutation, researchers say, which <div data-embedid="dcfb67aa-fdf4-4a19-b4c7-75c497a8de9c" id="insticator-embed-temp"></div>probably appeared about 4,000 years ago in Mexican hairless dogs and eventually passed through breeding into the other two dog breeds, Leeb says. “It’s extremely improbable that an identical mutation would have arisen three times,” he says [<a href="http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36367/title/A_foxi_gene_for_dog_baldness" title="">Science News</a>].In the study, published in <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5895/1462" title="">Science</a> [subscription required], researchers found revealed an insertion of seven letters, or base pairs, of genetic code in a gene called FOXI3 in all of the hairless dogs. Although the exact function of the FOXI3 gene is unknown, other genes in the FOX family control embryonic development in mammals. When the researchers investigated the equivalent gene in mice, they traced its activity to developing teeth and fur cells [<a href="http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/911/2" title="">ScienceNOW Daily News</a>]. This aligns neatly with observations of hairless dogs, who often have fewer teeth than typical dogs. The findings may have some relevance to humans, but don't apply to the normal hair loss process that occurs as humans age; instead they may help explain rare inherited diseases called ectodermal dysplasias. These diseases are characterized by sparse hair, dental problems, skin problems and defects of the nails and sweat glands. Mutations in one of several genes can cause the conditions, but the source of ectodermal dysplasias in some patients is unknown. Some of those patients may carry mutations in the FOXI3 gene, Leeb suggests [<a href="http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36367/title/A_foxi_gene_for_dog_baldness" title="">Science News</a>].Image: Tosso Leeb

Explore the genetic secrets behind hairless dog breeds and how the FOXI3 gene mutation influences their unique characteristics.

Planet Earth

Hairless Dogs Give up the Genetic Secret of Their Bald Glory

Article

News

Eliza Strickland

Science

Researchers have discovered the gene that determines the baldness of several hairless dog breeds, and say it may offers new insight into the development of skin and hair in other animals – including humans [New Scientist]. Mexican hairless, Peruvian hairless and Chinese crested dog breeds all share the same mutation, researchers say, which probably appeared about 4,000 years ago in Mexican hairless dogs and eventually passed through breeding into the other two dog breeds, Leeb says. “It’s extremely improbable that an identical mutation would have arisen three times,” he says [Science News]. In the study, published in Science [subscription required], researchers found revealed an insertion of seven letters, or base pairs, of genetic code in a gene called FOXI3 in all of the hairless dogs. Although the exact function of the FOXI3 gene is unknown, other genes in the FOX family control embryonic development in mammals. When the researchers investigated the equivalent gene in mice, they traced its activity to developing teeth and fur cells [ScienceNOW Daily News]. This aligns neatly with observations of hairless dogs, who often have fewer teeth than typical dogs. The findings may have some relevance to humans, but don't apply to the normal hair loss process that occurs as humans age; instead they may help explain rare inherited diseases called ectodermal dysplasias. These diseases are characterized by sparse hair, dental problems, skin problems and defects of the nails and sweat glands. Mutations in one of several genes can cause the conditions, but the source of ectodermal dysplasias in some patients is unknown. Some of those patients may carry mutations in the FOXI3 gene, Leeb suggests [Science News]. Image: Tosso Leeb

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