Susceptibility to Autism Tied to Genes

[HuckleB]

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637475.html

"Researchers have discovered two genes for brain proteins that seem to be linked to autism disorders.

"To our knowledge, this is one of the most comprehensive genetic analyses of association between these important genes in brain connections and ASD risk," said Anthony Monaco, of the Wellcome Trust Center for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford in England, in a statement.

Monaco and an international team of researchers studied genes from 661 families.

The genes in question encode proteins that are connected to brain development. One appears to influence the development of the nervous system, and the other is linked to the organization of connections between synapses.

Variations in the genes appeared to increase susceptibility to ASD, the researchers said.

..."


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I'm glad to know that some research is able to move forward in the area.

:woohoo:

[beam me up scottie]

1. k&r

:thumbsup:

[TZ]

2. There are literally hundreds of studies that

link autism and genetics now.

[Odin2005]

3. K&R

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. What is this, an MSM article about science that doesn't speak in absolutes! :gasp:

They could have gone all sensationalistic and said "Autism found by scientists to be caused by genetics!!!1!!!*!1!!", but instead couched their language in more realistic terms.

:thumbsup: Business Week!

[laconicsax]

5. So they found a gene that produces thimerosal?

:shrug:

Is it a dominant or recessive trait? What's the evolutionary advantage to a gene that causes the body to produce mercury?

Seems to me that the thimerosal-laden MMR vaccine is to blame. Support Dr. Wakefield!

[semillama]

6. Oh come on! Now you're going to tell me the body produces formeldahyde. n/t