Comments on: On Autism Genetics

By: Measles Cases on the Rise

Measles Cases on the Rise — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:01:15 +0000

[...] as autism.” “It generally accepted in the relevant scientific community that autism is genetic in origin except in rare instances of prenatal exposures to certain substances at defined periods during [...]

By: DNA and the Diagnosis of Rare Genetic Disorders (Not Autism)

DNA and the Diagnosis of Rare Genetic Disorders (Not Autism) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:54:33 +0000

[...] 2007 saw the publication of new research into the genetics of autism, scientists do not yet know what combination of genes—some 30 to 100 have been pointed [...]

By: The Extraordinary Claim of the Autism Epidemic

The Extraordinary Claim of the Autism Epidemic — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:37:49 +0000

[...] with autism—are regularly reported. This year also saw the publication of new studies about autism genetics and a continued focus on the environment and autism, in an April workshop on this topic at the [...]

By: Who’s to Blame? The MMR, Drug Companies……

Who’s to Blame? The MMR, Drug Companies…… — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:35:37 +0000

[...] as well as supports for them and for their families. Also, I think it equally important that genetics be mentioned in any conversation about a cause of autism—–and I think it all right [...]

By: larry

larry — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:57:03 +0000

OK. You win the argument, but so do I. It’s a crazy situation.

By: Autism Vox

Autism Vox — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:22:47 +0000

[...] are concerns that the more we know about autism genetics, the greater the likelihood that a prenatal test for autism might be developed, and also that [...]

By: larry

larry — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:14:44 +0000

Here’s a better website on the subject:

http://www.mcgill.ca/headway/fall2006/indepth1/

By: larry

larry — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:43:06 +0000

Has anyone seen the recent NOVA episode on epigenetics?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/expert.html

The webpage doesn’t mention one particular experiment that was shown on TV. It was really, truly threatening to conventional wisdom. It turns out that identical twin mice developed a *genetic* susceptibility to various mental and physical illnesses based on the amount of nurturing they got from their mothers. I swear I’m not making that up. This contoversial bit of information has been removed from the website, but it is still being shown on T.V. Those producers are going to catch hell.

If the scientists prove right, then everything about autism will be explained, and it will be none other than Bruno Bettelheim who will be vindicated.

I mean even Bettelheim never went so far as to even imply what these guys are saying!

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:05:52 +0000

Hi Tonya, Some more information: The prevalence data on siblings is estimated to be 5-10%—from that, overall, there is a 90-95%
chance that this child will not have autism. There are, though, some data that suggest that siblings of children with autism have slightly increased rates of language and/or social
difficulties that are much more mild than autism.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:38:58 +0000

eugene one-gin — sorry, could not resisting seeing more puns!