The study, published in the current issue of Nature, focused on a region of DNA that codes for two proteins called cadherin 9 and 10. These are sticky substances involved in a process known as neuronal cell adhesion. "They sit at the synapse, and when the nerves come together, these molecules adhere to the nerve," essentially fusing a connection in the brain, explains Dr. Hakon Harkonarson, director of the Center for Applied Genomics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and a lead author of the study. Preliminary research suggests that cadherin 10 is very active in wiring the frontal cortex of the brain during fetal development.
A malfunction affecting one of these genes is not, in itself, enough to cause autism, the Icelandic researcher is quick to point out. It would take a combination of several genetic flaws and perhaps environmental factors as well for autism to emerge. "This gene is a key driver in causing autism in about 15% of cases," Harkonarson asserts.
Variations in these genes on chromosome 5 are extremely common — present in more than half of healthy people. But they are even more common in individuals with autism, affecting 65%. It takes enormous genomewide association studies like this one — what researchers call very "high powered" studies — to discern this kind of statistical difference."
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- DeliaTheArtist
- added this
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What?! You mean Autism isnt caused by vaccinations??!
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I believe it's caused by plastics...
I'm no doctor, but I'll wait until my theory is proven...:) -
I'm currently expecting my first child and it's really sad to read about people who are in situations like these. Some people stay away from gluten to help with autism. Plastic can be harmful because it is porous and I heard it contains estrogen that lingers in the body and has actually shown up in umbilical cord blood. Another thing is our water in general your city's water reports will show or at least my does that there is arsenic in our water and filtering or drinking bottled water doesn't get you out of harms way because most of the chemicals in the water are absorbed through our skin when we shower.
I like this site http://www.tappening.com/
there is a link where I looked up my local water reportIt could really be anything and honestly I sometimes drive myself a little crazy trying to be so careful...adding stress which has it's own negative effects on our bodies.
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- lyndzstyles
- 7 months ago
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In all of the cased of Autisim I have ever heard of the mother was over 30. There is a trend in our culture lately for women to wait until later in life to have children. Maybe this could be related...
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- gfletcher0913
- 7 months ago
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I have an Autism Quotient of 43 (but I'm also a mathematician). "80% of adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders scored 32 or more, compared with only 2% of the control group."
In my case it's probably Aspergers (althought I have not been diagnosed). It would be nice to be more comfortable in social situations, but on the whole I like who I am and would not sacrifice any of my good qualities for social grace.
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- Sam_the_Wizer
- 7 months ago
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I recently helped out with a couple days of filming on a documentary called "Trace Amounts," which explores the possibility of Autism linked to Mercury.
I'm not educated in the matter enough to say Autism is caused one way or another....but it was very interesting to learn about during filming, and I think the documentary should make a compelling argument when complete.
You can learn more about the film and the filmmaker's stance on Mercury by clicking the link above.
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- PropadataFilms
- 7 months ago
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by "environmental factors" the researchers are likely collating "all of the above", even if it is found out to be plastics or mercury or whatever, you can be sure that it would still take months to years to remove the processes responsible due to this being likely a very prolific factor.
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- boywhocould
- 7 months ago
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I find any new about autism intersting, environmental causes, most likely.
Focus on what your children can do...you will be amazed at what you will find!-
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- trailrideryeha
- 4 months ago
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