Halloween Special
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More Halloween Health:
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Myth-diagnosis:
Werewolves
The myth of the werewolf
or "shape-shifter" dates back to the cavemen. The
condition on which the myth was based is almost surely older
than that.
A condition that probably contributed to the werewolf myth
is hypertrichosis or hirsutism, which causes excessive hair
growth over the entire body. The condition is linked to endocrine
malfunction, which can be genetic and present at birth. The
gene that causes the disease was recently isolated by geneticists
and is thought to be an atavism, a once common genetic trait
that became less common as humans evolved. The trait is sex-linked
and dominant; males who inherit the disease from their mothers
develop the condition, while females who inherit only one
of the trait-bearing chromosomes exhibit the thick hair growth
in random patches.
The condition can also develop over the course of a lifetime.
Often, acquired hypertrichosis is the result of hormonal irregularities.
Hypertrichosis, especially from birth, is rare, but well-documented.
In the past and even today, people with the condition have
appeared in circuses as "wolf-men" or "dog-boys."
No doubt these public exhibitions have contributed to the
werewolf fascination.
Howling History:
Werewolf folklore 
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