



Hairy Ears: a Y-linked trait ? [ Not ] [ OMIM 425500



Growth of thick hair on the pinnae of the external ears of males has long been presented in genetics textbooks as a Y-linked trait , common in some east Indian populations. Molecular population studies (

) indicate that men with hairy ears do not share any common Y -chromosome DNA sequences. Also, frequencies of Y -chromosome haplotypes shared among men with hairy ears are no different than those in non-hairy control groups from the same population.

The data thus indicate that hairy-eared men are unrelated and do not share a common Y -linked allele. The trait may instead be a sex-limited trait (like beard growth) influenced by one or more autosomal loci.





