The balance of common and rare genetic variation linked to autism is different in people of African descent than in those of European descent, according to the first analysis of a large cohort of autistic African Americans and their families. Polygenic scores for autism that are derived largely from people of European ancestry have limited […]
Rare variation: A new study describes a specific two-hit genetic variation in a cohort of autistic families, in which a gene deletion on one allele and a genetic variant on the other allele may combine. Called “deletion compound heterozygosity,” the phenomenon is difficult to pinpoint with conventional genetic analysis even as it may contribute to […]
Social skills: Tendencies to engage in groom soliciting, solitary play or sitting alone are highly heritable among macaques. Courtesy of Emory University / Marie Collantes Some aspects of rhesus macaques’ social behavior are strongly shaped by genetics, with differences tied to variants in autism-linked genes, according to a new study. The findings may shed light […]
Anna Gui Postdoctoral researcher, Birkbeck, University of London Emily Jones professor, Birkbeck, University of London Advances in genetics have revolutionized our understanding of the origins of autism. We know that hundreds of genes with different functions can contribute to the disease, and many of these genes primarily affect the formation of the brain during prenatal […]
