Researchers find genes related to autism

Scientists have found dozens of new autism-related genes, according to a study that eventually could help doctors develop better ways to diagnose and treat the condition.

Yet the study, published online Wednesday in Nature, also suggests that the genetic roots of autism are quite complicated.

Unlike children with cystic fibrosis, whose disease is caused by defects in a single gene, people with autism may share little in common genetically, says study co-author Stephen Scherer, who compared the DNA of nearly 1,000 children with autism with nearly 1,300 children who don't have autism.

But even the most common genetic changes in his study were found in only 1% or less of patients, Scherer says. That suggests that "most individuals with autism are probably genetically quite unique," says Scherer of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, one of 120 scientists from 11 countries working on the study, called the Autism Genome Project.

As co-author Stanley Nelson of the University of California-Los Angeles describes it: "If you had 100 kids with autism, you could have 100 different genetic causes."

Taken together, these genetic changes could explain up to 20% of cases of autism, says Hakon Hakonarson, director of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Applied Genomics, a co-author of the study, which was funded by Autism Speaks and the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers focused on a type of genetic change called "copy number variations," places where DNA has been either inserted or deleted. Because genes include instructions for making proteins, that can lead to an overdose of a protein, an underdose, a total absence of protein or a malfunctioning one, Hakonarson says.

But much about autism remains a mystery, including the cause of the other 80% of cases, says Bryan King, an autism expert at Seattle Children's Hospital. Study authors say they need to study the genes of many more children to get more precise answers about autism's genetic roots.

But doctors may one day be able to use these findings to offer parents an early genetic test to help predict children's risk of autism, says co-author Louise Gallagher of Trinity College Dublin.

The study also could lead to new drugs, because it points out new genetic targets, says co-author Anthony Monaco of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in the United Kingdom.

http://goodnewsdaily.com/show_story.php?ID=10067

[KarenDiane]

I saw this. Amazing. My hubby's fear is that it may advance to the stage where they can test for autism pre-birth and people may opt to end their pregnancies.

[Dazon50]

That is something to consider.  Ethics is an important area and addressing these kiinds of concerns.  That is one reason I like to listen to the adults with autism that are verbal and say they want to remain like they are.  It is all too easy for those on the outside looking in to make decisions thinking they are the "right" ones.

[vibo]

If there was a 'Gene' for autism, then everyone must have woke-up with it one day 10 years ago when the autism population exploded all of a sudden! There are too many enviromental causes for autism. More boys are diagnosed because their genetic code is XY, and that is weaker than XX. The first 'Vaccine' given to a newborn baby is a Hepatitis vaccine, and that is given on the birthday. Think about this: why does this newborn baby (with NO immune system yet) need to be shot with this vaccine? First of all, there IS Mercury in this vaccine! Second, this tainted vaccine is only supposed to work for up to 7 years. OK, now, is this baby going to spend any time with family that HAS Hepatitis? And lastly, is this baby going to do IV drugs? Now you understand why I think this vaccine is needless, like most of the others. The H1N1 and the regular Flu vaccine HAVE mercury in them. It is better to build your immune system up rather than expose yourself to these poisons.
Google H1N1, and you will find the surprise toxin that caused miscarriages.