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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 ese002 on Tuesday March 07 2017, @07:52PM
A deficits in social communication and social interaction is conducive to a highly probable "reproductive dead end".
Only when extreme. The research suggests that genes that increase risk of autism also increase neural capacity. So, as long you don't get full hammer of autism, you get higher intelligence. That is a reproductive advantage.
The classic example of this effect is sickle cell anaemia> [sciencedaily.com]. Two copies of the gene results in a deadly genetic disease. But inheriting the sickle cell gene from only one parent improves resistance to malaria. Thus, the gene persists in areas with high incidence of malaria.