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A definitive cause for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has remained elusive, although the best picture so far seems to be one of a mix of genetic and environmental factors. This suggests that any genes involved with the condition by necessity are being passed on from generation to generation. A new study now suggests that these genes are being positively selected for.
The study, published in PLOS Genetics[open,DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006618][DX], looked at the prevalence of alleles, or gene variants, commonly associated with an increased risk of ASD. The researchers discovered that these variants were found in much larger numbers than would be expected by chance, and they suggest that this may be because they are also linked to other genes implicated in cognitive ability.
The authors write that this positive selection between the genes thought to contribute to autism and those that might promote intelligence may explain why autism is such a prevalent condition, especially when it seems like it would have been selected against during human evolution.
(Score: 2) by dry on Wednesday March 08 2017, @02:24AM
While they weren't looking for autism as hard in the past, they still noticed the dysfunctional. I got diagnosed as brain damaged due to shortage of oxygen at birth back when I was evaluated in 1967. During my sons diagnosis for basically the same symptoms, the Doctors and researchers were very interested in the relationship between my son and I, as in blood samples for genetic tests and they seemed to just automatically accept that I'm autistic.