Genes that predispose to baldness can be inherited from either parent. Chromosome 20p11 has been implicated in some recent studies to greatly increase the risk of balding. Men with the 20p11 gene are seven times more likely to experience balding. A gene on the X chromosome has also been linked to baldness. Overall, research studies have not discovered a specific gene for baldness. So far more than 250 genes are found to contribute to balding.