Autism linked to hundreds of genetic mutations

[Guest guest]

Autism linked to hundreds of genetic mutations

Three new studies conclude that autism disorders are

genetically very complex, not caused by one or two gene

defects. The potential changes in DNA may produce what are

essentially different forms of autism.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-autism-20110609,0,2892508.story

- - - -

High Risk Genomic Loci in ASD

Studies by Levy et al.

<http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273%2811%2900396-5> and

et al.

<http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273%2811%2900374-6> examine

the contribution of rare de novo genomic copy number variations (CNVs)

in a large collection of families with one child with autism spectrum

disorder (ASD) and revealed a number of loci associated with higher risk

of ASD. In a related study, Gilman et al.

<http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273%2811%2900439-9> used a

novel network analysis approach to identify a network of genes affected

by these rare de novo CNVs. Preview by Schaaf and Zoghbi

<http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273%2811%2900443-0>.