[Fwd: [abmd] CNN.COM... Mutated Gene/Autism... online today]

[Guest guest]

Mandi, surely this is the stuff for your presentation. Real medical

science (genetics) leading to proof of connection with guts,

auto-immunity etc all without mentioning vaccinations

Plus it is so bang up to date that it will make them all look/feel

stupid. When theyn flounder you can say things like " Well this is the

latest research. " and " You may not be completely upto speed on this " etc

Sally

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/16/autism.genes.reut/index.html

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date: 14/10/2006

Gene Mutation Linked to Risk of Autism

21:41:53 EDT Oct 16, 2006

Canadian Press: ED EDELSON/HEALTHDAY REPORTER

MONDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) - For the first time, researchers have identified a specific gene mutation that increases the risk of autism.

And while scientists are hailing the discovery as significant, they add that it will be many years before the research has medical applications.

The study of more than 700 families with autistic children found that a mutation that decreases the production of a protein designated MET more than doubles the risk of the disorder.

The report, led by researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., was published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Rare changes in genes have been identified before this as contributing to the risk of autism," said Dr. W. State, director of the Yale University School of Medicine's program on neurogenetics, who wrote an accompanying commentary in the journal. "Conversely, there have been a number of instances where a gene has been implicated, but where the functional change that led to the finding was not found."

"This time, they have gone all the way, identifying the gene and the mechanism. It is tremendously important because it tells you what the biological processes might be," State added.

Autism is a disorder that causes social deficits, language impairment and repetitive behavior. Its reported incidence has increased sharply in recent years, perhaps because of more awareness of the condition. The incidence of autism itself is estimated at one in every 500 American children, and the rate of autism-related conditions is as high as one in 166.

The MET protein studied by the researchers has many roles in the body. It is best known for promoting metastasis, the spread of a variety of cancers. But it also has been found to contribute to immune function and gastrointestinal repair. Recent studies, by the Vanderbilt group and others, have shown that the protein contributes to development of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, parts of the brain that can be abnormal in people with autism.

This study found that a mutation of the portion of the MET gene that governs the production of its protein was associated with the risk of autism. The strongest association of the mutation to autism was found in families with more than one affected child. Overall, the presence of the mutation raised the risk of autism by 2.27 times.

An essential step now is to verify the finding, said Andy Shih, director of research at the National Alliance for Autism Research.

"Maybe 100 candidate genes have been identified before this, and most of them have not been replicated," Shih said. "But what distinguishes this particular paper is that it involves the biology associated with this condition."

Now that a mutation has been identified, Shih said, "we must try to understand how this functional variant is related to behavioral manifestations."

State said: "The first thing always is that this absolutely must be replicated in other laboratories. Second, in terms of understanding the biology better, we have to take a look at what happens in vivo," meaning in physical function.

One possible method of verifying the finding would be to bioengineer animals such as mice so their production of MET protein is reduced, to see how that affects their behavior, State said.

But, Shih added, any medical application of the finding is many

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date: 14/10/2006

[Guest guest]

-They found a single mutation in a gene called MET, which is known

to be involved in brain development, regulation of the immune system

and repair of the gastrointestinal system. All of these systems can

be affected in children with autism.

" This is a vulnerability gene, " Levitt said in a telephone

interview. " There are not genes that actually cause autism. It

raises the risk. "

Surely this is nothing new - if our kids weren't given the insults

they wouldn't be autistic! Maybe I'm missing the point but these

studies imply that no harm has been done and if it's genetic then

it's nobodies fault - it makes me mad!

Peta-- In Autism Treatment , Eva family

<bobsallyeva@...> wrote:

>

>

>

> http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/16/autism.genes.reut/index.html

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date:

14/10/2006

>

>

>

> Gene Mutation Linked to Risk of Autism

> 21:41:53 EDT Oct 16, 2006

> Canadian Press: ED EDELSON/HEALTHDAY REPORTER

>

>

>

> MONDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) - For the first time,

researchers have

> identified a specific gene mutation that increases the risk of

autism.

> And while scientists are hailing the discovery as significant,

they add that

> it will be many years before the research has medical

applications.

> The study of more than 700 families with autistic children found

that a

> mutation that decreases the production of a protein designated

MET more than

> doubles the risk of the disorder.

> The report, led by researchers at Vanderbilt University in

Nashville, Tenn.,

> was published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the

National Academy

> of Sciences.

> " Rare changes in genes have been identified before this as

contributing to

> the risk of autism, " said Dr. W. State, director of the

Yale University

> School of Medicine's program on neurogenetics, who wrote an

accompanying

> commentary in the journal. " Conversely, there have been a number

of instances

> where a gene has been implicated, but where the functional change

that led to

> the finding was not found. "

> " This time, they have gone all the way, identifying the gene and

the

> mechanism. It is tremendously important because it tells you what

the biological

> processes might be, " State added.

> Autism is a disorder that causes social deficits, language

impairment and

> repetitive behavior. Its reported incidence has increased sharply

in recent

> years, perhaps because of more awareness of the condition. The

incidence of

> autism itself is estimated at one in every 500 American children,

and the rate of

> autism-related conditions is as high as one in 166.

> The MET protein studied by the researchers has many roles in the

body. It is

> best known for promoting metastasis, the spread of a variety of

cancers. But

> it also has been found to contribute to immune function and

gastrointestinal

> repair. Recent studies, by the Vanderbilt group and others, have

shown that

> the protein contributes to development of the cerebral cortex and

cerebellum,

> parts of the brain that can be abnormal in people with autism.

> This study found that a mutation of the portion of the MET gene

that governs

> the production of its protein was associated with the risk of

autism. The

> strongest association of the mutation to autism was found in

families with more

> than one affected child. Overall, the presence of the mutation

raised the

> risk of autism by 2.27 times.

> An essential step now is to verify the finding, said Andy Shih,

director of

> research at the National Alliance for Autism Research.

> " Maybe 100 candidate genes have been identified before this, and

most of them

> have not been replicated, " Shih said. " But what distinguishes

this

> particular paper is that it involves the biology associated with

this condition. "

> Now that a mutation has been identified, Shih said, " we must try

to

> understand how this functional variant is related to behavioral

manifestations. "

> State said: " The first thing always is that this absolutely must

be

> replicated in other laboratories. Second, in terms of

understanding the biology

> better, we have to take a look at what happens in vivo, " meaning

in physical

> function.

> One possible method of verifying the finding would be to

bioengineer animals

> such as mice so their production of MET protein is reduced, to see

how that

> affects their behavior, State said.

> But, Shih added, any medical application of the finding is many

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date:

14/10/2006

>

[Guest guest]

I feel that research like this is great and IMMENSELY IMPORTANT for the

biomed cause, as it shows (to doubters in the establishmet, not to us

parents here of course) that autism is not pre-wired, hard-wired brain

condition, but a result of things that happen in the whole body.

this particular research points out to what we know: that our kids are

especially vulnerable to environmental insults and need all the medical

help they can get.

this is hard science (in terms of what policy makers call hard science,

as it deals with genes) and if this particular bit is proven of

relevance to at least some kids it can only help further the cause for

wider biomed funding.

Natasa

maybe I am

> >

> >

> >

> > http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/16/autism.genes.reut/index.html

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date:

> 14/10/2006

> >

> >

> >

> > Gene Mutation Linked to Risk of Autism

> > 21:41:53 EDT Oct 16, 2006

> > Canadian Press: ED EDELSON/HEALTHDAY REPORTER

> >

> >

> >

> > MONDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) - For the first time,

> researchers have

> > identified a specific gene mutation that increases the risk of

> autism.

> > And while scientists are hailing the discovery as significant,

> they add that

> > it will be many years before the research has medical

> applications.

> > The study of more than 700 families with autistic children found

> that a

> > mutation that decreases the production of a protein designated

> MET more than

> > doubles the risk of the disorder.

> > The report, led by researchers at Vanderbilt University in

> Nashville, Tenn.,

> > was published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the

> National Academy

> > of Sciences.

> > " Rare changes in genes have been identified before this as

> contributing to

> > the risk of autism, " said Dr. W. State, director of the

> Yale University

> > School of Medicine's program on neurogenetics, who wrote an

> accompanying

> > commentary in the journal. " Conversely, there have been a number

> of instances

> > where a gene has been implicated, but where the functional change

> that led to

> > the finding was not found. "

> > " This time, they have gone all the way, identifying the gene and

> the

> > mechanism. It is tremendously important because it tells you what

> the biological

> > processes might be, " State added.

> > Autism is a disorder that causes social deficits, language

> impairment and

> > repetitive behavior. Its reported incidence has increased sharply

> in recent

> > years, perhaps because of more awareness of the condition. The

> incidence of

> > autism itself is estimated at one in every 500 American children,

> and the rate of

> > autism-related conditions is as high as one in 166.

> > The MET protein studied by the researchers has many roles in the

> body. It is

> > best known for promoting metastasis, the spread of a variety of

> cancers. But

> > it also has been found to contribute to immune function and

> gastrointestinal

> > repair. Recent studies, by the Vanderbilt group and others, have

> shown that

> > the protein contributes to development of the cerebral cortex and

> cerebellum,

> > parts of the brain that can be abnormal in people with autism.

> > This study found that a mutation of the portion of the MET gene

> that governs

> > the production of its protein was associated with the risk of

> autism. The

> > strongest association of the mutation to autism was found in

> families with more

> > than one affected child. Overall, the presence of the mutation

> raised the

> > risk of autism by 2.27 times.

> > An essential step now is to verify the finding, said Andy Shih,

> director of

> > research at the National Alliance for Autism Research.

> > " Maybe 100 candidate genes have been identified before this, and

> most of them

> > have not been replicated, " Shih said. " But what distinguishes

> this

> > particular paper is that it involves the biology associated with

> this condition. "

> > Now that a mutation has been identified, Shih said, " we must try

> to

> > understand how this functional variant is related to behavioral

> manifestations. "

> > State said: " The first thing always is that this absolutely must

> be

> > replicated in other laboratories. Second, in terms of

> understanding the biology

> > better, we have to take a look at what happens in vivo, " meaning

> in physical

> > function.

> > One possible method of verifying the finding would be to

> bioengineer animals

> > such as mice so their production of MET protein is reduced, to see

> how that

> > affects their behavior, State said.

> > But, Shih added, any medical application of the finding is many

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date:

> 14/10/2006

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, that's right, Natasha. Also it will wrest autism away from

being considered a psychiatric problem.

Margaret

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/16/autism.genes.reut/index.html

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date:

> > 14/10/2006

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Gene Mutation Linked to Risk of Autism

> > > 21:41:53 EDT Oct 16, 2006

> > > Canadian Press: ED EDELSON/HEALTHDAY REPORTER

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > MONDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) - For the first time,

> > researchers have

> > > identified a specific gene mutation that increases the risk of

> > autism.

> > > And while scientists are hailing the discovery as significant,

> > they add that

> > > it will be many years before the research has medical

> > applications.

> > > The study of more than 700 families with autistic children

found

> > that a

> > > mutation that decreases the production of a protein designated

> > MET more than

> > > doubles the risk of the disorder.

> > > The report, led by researchers at Vanderbilt University in

> > Nashville, Tenn.,

> > > was published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the

> > National Academy

> > > of Sciences.

> > > " Rare changes in genes have been identified before this as

> > contributing to

> > > the risk of autism, " said Dr. W. State, director of the

> > Yale University

> > > School of Medicine's program on neurogenetics, who wrote an

> > accompanying

> > > commentary in the journal. " Conversely, there have been a

number

> > of instances

> > > where a gene has been implicated, but where the functional

change

> > that led to

> > > the finding was not found. "

> > > " This time, they have gone all the way, identifying the gene

and

> > the

> > > mechanism. It is tremendously important because it tells you

what

> > the biological

> > > processes might be, " State added.

> > > Autism is a disorder that causes social deficits, language

> > impairment and

> > > repetitive behavior. Its reported incidence has increased

sharply

> > in recent

> > > years, perhaps because of more awareness of the condition. The

> > incidence of

> > > autism itself is estimated at one in every 500 American

children,

> > and the rate of

> > > autism-related conditions is as high as one in 166.

> > > The MET protein studied by the researchers has many roles in

the

> > body. It is

> > > best known for promoting metastasis, the spread of a variety of

> > cancers. But

> > > it also has been found to contribute to immune function and

> > gastrointestinal

> > > repair. Recent studies, by the Vanderbilt group and others,

have

> > shown that

> > > the protein contributes to development of the cerebral cortex

and

> > cerebellum,

> > > parts of the brain that can be abnormal in people with autism.

> > > This study found that a mutation of the portion of the MET gene

> > that governs

> > > the production of its protein was associated with the risk of

> > autism. The

> > > strongest association of the mutation to autism was found in

> > families with more

> > > than one affected child. Overall, the presence of the mutation

> > raised the

> > > risk of autism by 2.27 times.

> > > An essential step now is to verify the finding, said Andy Shih,

> > director of

> > > research at the National Alliance for Autism Research.

> > > " Maybe 100 candidate genes have been identified before this,

and

> > most of them

> > > have not been replicated, " Shih said. " But what distinguishes

> > this

> > > particular paper is that it involves the biology associated

with

> > this condition. "

> > > Now that a mutation has been identified, Shih said, " we must

try

> > to

> > > understand how this functional variant is related to behavioral

> > manifestations. "

> > > State said: " The first thing always is that this absolutely

must

> > be

> > > replicated in other laboratories. Second, in terms of

> > understanding the biology

> > > better, we have to take a look at what happens in vivo, "

meaning

> > in physical

> > > function.

> > > One possible method of verifying the finding would be to

> > bioengineer animals

> > > such as mice so their production of MET protein is reduced, to

see

> > how that

> > > affects their behavior, State said.

> > > But, Shih added, any medical application of the finding is many

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date:

> > 14/10/2006

> > >

> >

>