One of men’s biggest fears related to growing older is losing their hair. Although far from the top two fears - public speaking and death, in this order - male pattern baldness affects many. The pharmaceutical industry is having field day after field day designing and mass-selling creams that prevent hair loss or that help the re-growth of strands from dried-out hair follicles.

The toupee and wig industries are also growing and thriving due to men’s obsession to comply with society’s physical standards. One of the most prominent on-screen characters who fought this shortcoming everyday is the quirky George Costanza from “Seinfeld”, a caricature of every man out there worrying about hair loss.

In an attempt to at least determine the causes and the predictability of one developing male pattern baldness, on-going studies have been conducted throughout the years. German and English researchers, who have indeed found the links to hereditary balding, carried out the most recent studies.

According to the researchers, this recent link is the second one discovered related to the balding people experience - as balding is not restricted to males. So far, only the X chromosome was genetically “responsible” for alopecia. The new locus is the second in importance compared to the X chromosome, and by analyzing the two of them scientists say they might be able to predict which men will lose their hair when they start ageing. The newly identified locus is situated on chromosome 20, of which people have two copies, one from each of their parents’ side, as opposed to the X chromosome, of which men only have one copy and is from their mother.

Identifying the locus and not the gene impedes scientists to develop a preventive treatment in the near future. Soon, genetic tests will be able to tell beyond reasonable doubt which men are likely to develop alopecia.