Study reveals two genes which could be involved in autism

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A DNA scan sheds new insights on the genetics underlying autism.
Autism is a complex brain disorder which starts in early childhood. It disrupts the child's ability to communicate and develop normal relationships, which can lead to acute behavioral problems. The disease appears to run in families and affects one in 150 children in the USA. It is four times more common among boys. In 2002, the Autism Genome Project was launched, with the aim of learning about the genetics of autism. It involves scientists from 50 institutions in 19 countries.

They have used gene chip technology to search for genetic commonality in autistic individuals from nearly 1,200 families. The results implicated a region of chromosome 11 and a gene called neurexin 1, a member of a gene family involved in communication between brain cells. The researchers hope that these insights into the genetics of autism can lead to new approaches to the disease. Diagnosis of autism has expanded tenfold in the last decade as the disease has become better recognized. What is needed now are effective ways of treating autism and a better understanding of the underlying genetics may lead to this.

Source
Nature Genetics online 18th February 2007

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