Autism Genes May Be In All Of Us, Researchers Say

[proverbialwisdom]

Source: by Shaun Heasley | Disability Scoop

April 12, 2016

Genetic variants responsible for autism exist in varying degrees throughout the population – both in those on the spectrum and among typically-developing individuals – a new study suggests.

Both inherited and spontaneously-occurring genetic differences associated with autism may underlie a wide range of behavioral and developmental traits, with those who have the developmental disorder exhibiting the most severe presentations.

That’s the result of a study published recently in the journal Nature Genetics: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.3529.html
Author affiliations: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.3529.html#affil-auth

“There has been a lot of strong but indirect evidence that has suggested these findings,” said Mark Daly of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and a senior author of the study. “Once we had measurable genetic signals in hand – both polygenic risk and specific de novo mutations known to contribute to ASD – we were able to make an incontrovertible case that the genetic risk contributing to autism is genetic risk that exists in all of us, and influences our behavior and social communication.”


Read more: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/04/12/autism-genes-all-of-us/22168/

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Makes logical sense at first blush.

Going to read this in detail.

[jwirr]

2. I read the whole article and think they may have something

when they assume that not just autism but other diseases may exist on a genetic spectrum.

I know that seizures exist on a spectrum from simple ones that the patient outgrows to extreme ones that occur many times a day.

Also bi-polar is very common in my family for generations and very different degrees. Some of us are very functional and others cannot function at all and everywhere in between.

I hope this is a new way of looking at the cause of diseases. We may get more answers.