I have a question regarding the genetics of hair loss. I suspect that my mother's side of the family carries the "bald gene" and even my 50 year old mother has an uneven hair line on the temples, also her father, and grand father had hair loss on the sides of their heads, and her brother is almost totally bald. On the other hand, my father at 49 has not experienced any hair loss at all, and his 52 year old brother hasn't either; and I am told that no male relatives on his side of the family were bald. I myself am 19, and I still do not see any sign of baldness on my own hairline, but I am constantly worried because I do not know what to expect! I have summed it up in 2 questions, thank you in advance!
1) If one parent carries the "bald gene" does this mean that the offspring has a 50/50 chance of getting it?
2) Or does the "bald gene" always get passed down, regardless of anything? Is the "bald gene" favored
3) I was in a fight with a guy who knew about my hair-loss concerns, so he grabbed onto my long hair and started to pull it, this was today, and my hair hurts, if it falls out, will it grow back?
Answer Your mother carries two X Chromosomes which makes her a female. The male has an XY. Thus, if the baldness is on both chromosomes then the chance is 100%. If the baldness is on one chromosome then you have a 50% chance. You inherit the Y chromosome from your dad and an X Chromosome from your mother. Your hair should not fall out from having it pulled. If the hair does fall out then it will regrow so there is nothing to worry about.
