PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsAutism mechanism goes beyond genes

BioNews

Autism mechanism goes beyond genes

Published 26 April 2013 posted in News and appears in BioNews 702

Author

Dr Daniel Grimes

Image by Christoph Bock/Max Planck Institute for Informatics via Wikimedia Commons. Depicts a DNA molecule that is methylated on both strands on the centre cytosine.
CC BY-SA 3.0
Image by Christoph Bock/Max Planck Institute for Informatics via Wikimedia Commons. Depicts a DNA molecule that is methylated on both strands on the centre cytosine.

A study on identical twins with distinct autistic traits suggests that epigenetic factors may be important in understanding how the neurological disorder develops...

A study on identical twins with different autistic traits suggests that epigenetic factors may be important in understanding how the neurological
disorder develops.

'Our findings give us an insight into the biological mechanism
mediating the interaction between gene and environment in autism spectrum
disorder (ASD)', Dr Chloe Wong, a post-doctoral researcher at King's College
London's Institute of Psychiatry and the first author on the study, commented.

Family studies indicate that ASD has a strong genetic component.
However around 30 percent of identical twins with autism show striking discordances
in their ASD symptoms. As identical twins have identical DNA, this suggests
that gene sequences alone cannot completely determine the development of the
condition.

Mechanisms that affect gene expression without altering the
underlying sequence are known as 'epigenetic' and these can be induced by
environmental factors. One important epigenetic mechanism is DNA methylation, where
a small chemical modification is imprinted on the DNA, most often acting to
switch off nearby genes and shut down their expression.

In this study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers analysed
the DNA methylation signature across the genome for 50 identical twin pairs,
including some twins who both exhibited ASD, others in which only one twin
showed signs of the disorder, and a final control group of unaffected twin pairs.

Dr Wong says the team 'identified distinctive patterns of DNA
methylation associated with autism diagnosis, related behaviour traits and
increasing severity of symptoms'.

In the paper, the team suggests that variations in DNA methylation
could alter gene dosage, thereby varying disease susceptibility. They also
argue that their study highlights the notion that 'environmentally mediated
effects on the epigenome may be relatively common and important for disease'.

Optimistically, Dr Jonathan Mill of the Institute of
Psychiatry and the University of Exeter, the paper's lead author, said: 'Epigenetic
changes are potentially reversible, so our next step is to embark on larger
studies to see whether we can identify key epigenetic changes common to the
majority of people with autism to help us develop possible therapeutic
interventions'.

Related Articles

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
30 January 2015 • 2 minutes read

Most siblings with autism carry different risk-genes

by Isobel Steer

Siblings with autism do not share the same contributory genetic factor in almost 70 percent of cases, a study has revealed....

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
11 July 2014 • 2 minutes read

Gene mutation may be behind autism subtype

by Dr Molly Godfrey

A mutation in a gene that regulates the structure of DNA has been linked to a subtype of autism...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
25 October 2013 • 2 minutes read

IVF sex selection allowed in Western Australia to reduce autism risk

by Victoria Rivas Llanos

Sex selection in IVF as a method of avoiding autism has been approved for the first time by health authorities in Western Australia...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
15 July 2013 • 2 minutes read

Whole genome sequencing promises improved autism genetics research

by Richard Fadok

Whole genome sequencing suggests that around half of all people with autism may be carriers of genes already associated with the condition...

Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
CC0 1.0
Image by Alan Handyside via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a human egg soon after fertilisation, with the two parental pronuclei clearly visible.
News
8 July 2013 • 2 minutes read

No or low risk of autism and intellectual disability from IVF

by Dr Katie Howe

Children born following IVF have no increased risk of autism but may be at a very small increased risk of intellectual disability, a Swedish study suggests. However, the researchers stress that the overall likelihood of children conceived via IVF having an intellectual impairment remains extremely low...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
26 March 2013 • 1 minute read

Genetic test developed to predict the risk of autism

by Dr Vikki Burchell

A genetic test capable of predicting a person's risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), with an accuracy greater than 70 percent, has been developed by researchers...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
25 March 2013 • 2 minutes read

Older fathers may pass autism risk to grandchildren

by Matthew Thomas

Men who father children later in life are more likely to have grandchildren with autism, according to research...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
21 January 2013 • 2 minutes read

Twenty-five genetic variants for autism discovered

by Dr Vikki Burchell

Rare genetic variants may have a significant impact on a person's risk of developing autism, research suggests...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
12 November 2012 • 2 minutes read

Complex genetics of autism unveiled

by Dr Lux Fatimathas

American researchers have linked hundreds of spontaneous genetic mutations to the group of psychological syndromes called autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« Nuffield says parents should decide whether to tell children they are donor-conceived

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.

Find out how you can advertise here
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Placenta and organ formation observed in mouse embryo models

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Lower hormone doses may improve IVF egg quality

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Boosting muscle cell production of gene therapy proteins

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

First UK medical guidelines issued for trans fertility preservation

1 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Male age has more impact on IVF birth rate than previously thought

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Placenta and organ formation observed in mouse embryo models

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Complex structures of the human heart bioengineered

8 August 2022 • 1 minute read

Brain tumour gene also linked to childhood cancers

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Lower hormone doses may improve IVF egg quality

8 August 2022 • 2 minutes read

Boosting muscle cell production of gene therapy proteins

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856