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Autism's Genetic Waterloo: CNTNAP2 |
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Written by Theresa Maher
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Saturday, 12 January 2008 |
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FRIDAY, JAN 11, (News Locale) - Autism is a complex developmental disorder that severely impairs a child's ability to communicate and interact with other people. Although the precise cause of autism is unclear, a plethora of theories have been suggested. Now three separate research teams have zeroed in on a gene called contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) as the probable cause for the disease.
CNTNAP2 was found in the genetic samples of 500 families that had at least one child suffering from autism. Research teams at University of California, Los Angeles, Johns Hopkins University and Yale University have all documented the culpability of CNTNAP2 in autism in separate reports in the January 10 online edition of The American Journal of Human Genetics.
Genetic links to autism are nothing new. Just yesterday researchers from Boston reported chromosome 16 as being implicated in causing autism. The New Year has thrown up several studies on autism with an earlier one refuting the role of mercury-laden vaccines in causing the condition.
In the present study UCLA researchers found CNTNAP2 plays a vital role in language management by the brain. Perhaps this is why autistic children have difficulty in speech and related areas. The UCLA researchers further discovered that the gene was predominant in families having autistic boys or autistic boys and girls rather than in families having only girls suffering from the condition.
The Johns Hopkins team found a variation in the structure of CNTNAP2 in autistic children. In the study of 1,300 children and their parents, Johns Hopkins researchers found that a segment of code of CNTNAP2 was composed of either adenine or thymine chemical base. However children with autism were more likely to have thymine.
Dr. Matthew State of Yale University opined that three different sets of researchers finding the same gene meat it may really play a key role in increasing risk for autism. His team's study also homed in on the same gene, but found a rare mutation of this gene liable for causing autism.
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that some 1.5 million people in the country are suffering from autism related disorders. "Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling," it added.
The above finding seems to imply a strong genetic component involved in causing the disease. Perhaps that will further understanding the mechanism behind its development and lead to better management of autism in future.
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