| |
 |
|
|
Science Forum Index » Anthropology - Paleo Forum » Autism gene breakthrough hailed
Page 1 of 1
|
| Author |
Message |
| Roger Lee Bagula |
 Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:31 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6369347.stm
BBC NEWS
Autism gene breakthrough hailed
Scientists have found new autism genes by scanning the largest
collection of families with multiple cases of autism ever assembled.
The monumental task of studying the 1,200 families took more than 120
scientists from more than 50 institutions across 19 countries.
The work, described in Nature Genetics, implicates a region of
chromosome 11 and a specific gene called neurexin 1.
Experts say the findings should help with finding new autism treatments.
These exciting results may represent a step on the way to further new
treatments
Child psychiatrist Professor Jonathan Green
Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to
communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied
by extreme behavioural challenges.
Scientists have long suspected that errors in a person's genetic
blueprint play a part in autism.
Genetic code, DNA, is packaged in cells in the form of chromosomes,
which are made up of strings of genes.
Experts have now located a region of one chromosome - 11p - and a gene
called neurexin 1.
Neurexin belongs to a family of genes that help nerve cells communicate
and the scientists now believe these play a critical role in autism
spectrum disorders.
The work began five years ago in 2002, when scientists pooled their
research resources and expertise and formed the Autism Genome Project.
They used "gene chip" technology to look for genetic similarities in
autistic people, funded by the non-profit organisation Autism Speaks and
the US National Institutes of Health.
Treatment need
Child psychiatrist Professor Jonathan Green, who led the clinical
fieldwork in Manchester, said: "Autism is a very difficult condition for
families - communication is taken for granted by parents of healthy
children but is so greatly missed by those with autistic children.
"We hope that these exciting results may represent a step on the way to
further new treatments in the future."
Professor John Burn, of the Institute of Human Genetics at Newcastle
University, said the news was fantastic.
But he cautioned: "There will almost certainly be an interaction between
several genes so this one discovery doesn't provide a complete answer
and may not lead straight to a genetic test but it could be a key step
in development for effective treatments as it provides a target for drug
development."
Dr Fred Kavalier of the British Society for Human Genetics said a cure
for autism was still a long way off.
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at
Cambridge University, said independent replication of the findings was
now needed.
The next phase of the work, which will take three years and cost more
than £7m, will hone in on the suspect areas of DNA.
It is estimated that autism and related disorders affect up to one in
100 British children.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/6369347.stm
Published: 2007/02/19 03:15:41 GMT
© BBC MMVII |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
|
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:48 am
|
|