New Genetic Mutation Found to Contribute to Autism

[BlackLili]

http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/A/AUTISM_GENE?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-01-09-23-04-49

A rare genetic variation dramatically raises the risk of developing autism, a large study showed, opening new research targets for better understanding the disorder and for treating it.


Research into the causes of autism has focused on genetic causes because so many families have multiple children with the disorder. Thus far, only about 10 percent of autism cases have a known genetic cause. Boston-area researchers estimate the gene glitch they've identified accounts for another 1 percent of cases.


They found a segment of a chromosome which has genes linked to brain development and various developmental disorders was either missing or duplicated far more often in autistic people. The defect was inherited in some cases, but more often the result of a random genetic accident.


Since we've been discussing this, I thought I would put the newest chromosome 16 theory out there for chewing upon.

[DreamSpell333]

Im watching a video from cnn.com about this as well.

[RainInanna]

Hah you posted it before I could :)

[Lunacie]

Hmm, I'll have to see if I can find more information on this. I do wonder if my granddaughter has Autism because of certain genes from her mother's family mixing with certain genes from her father's family, that if either had mixed with different genes would have resulted in ADD rather than the more troublesome Autism? There is a history of AD/HD on both sides of the family, and her father has been diagnosed with Parkinson's which is another form of neurological disorder and on our side there is a history of migraine which may also have a neurological component. There is so much still to learn about how our bodies work and why we are sometimes different from each other.

[Xentor]

Very interesting. This is the kind of disease that just might be eased with gene therapy.