Latest Expert Witness News

Genetic clue to autism development in males identified

Researchers have discovered a genetic variant that may play a role in autism development in males. Results of this study were published in the May online edition of the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Researchers at UCLA in America analyzed the DNA of over 1,000 families with at least one son affected with autism and discovered that a genetic variant of the CACNA1G gene, located on chromosome 17, was more often found in these families. The link between this variant and autism development is not yet known. Forty percent of the population is thought to carry this variant, which helps to shuttle calcium between cells.

Both genetic and environmental factors are likely contributing to the variation seen in autism spectrum disorders. This study has identified just one more piece of the puzzle in the etiology of a very complex condition.

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