Researchers have identified a genetic mutation that increases the risk of autism and could also explain some of the other symptoms seen in children with autism
Dr. Pat Levitt and fellow colleagues from the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, conducted a study involving 743 families in which, 1,200 family members were affected by autism spectrum disorders. They found a single mutation in a gene called MET. This gene is known to be involved in brain development, regulation of the immune system and repair of the gastrointestinal system. It was found that the mutation does not change the function of the genes, however, changes the gene expression. The study also showed that people with two copies of the mutated genes have 2 - 2.5 times the normal risk of autism and people with one mutated copy have 1.7 times the risk.
The next step in Levitt’s research is to infect a rat or mouse with the same genetic mutation and use it to study what in the environment might cause autism in people with the mutation. The findings of the study and future experiments, will hopefully offer researches a place to start looking for the actually causes of autism and may help answer questions about the links between vaccines and autism.
References:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/16/autism.genes.reut/index.html
