Re: French Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Autism

December 26, 2006

I guess I'm having trouble still with the genetic idea. Is there any

other disease with a genetic link that affects boys so much more than

girls? And I wonder if of the girls who do have autism do they have

higher levels of male hormone? Just curious.

>

> French Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Autism

> <http://www.ednews.org/articles/5883/1/French-Researchers-Identify-Gene-Link

> <http://www.ednews.org/articles/5883/1/French-Researchers-Identify-Gene-Link>

> ed-to-Autism/Page1.html>

> PARIS (AFP) - French researchers have discovered a new gene linked to

> autism, a mental disability which prevents sufferers from

> communicating and

> forming relationships normally and whose causes are unknown. The study,

> published Sunday online by Nature Genetics journal, found that all of five

> autistic children studied had anomalies in the SHANK3 gene,

> responsible for

> making the connections in the brain necessary for language development.

>

> Jimmy Kilpatrick

> Editor

> EdNews.org <http://www.ednews.org/ <http://www.ednews.org/>>

> http://www.EdNews.org <http://www.EdNews.org>

>

> P.O. Box 17392, Sugar Land, Texas 77496-17392 Phone: 832 814-7463

>

December 27, 2006

I think that people also need to realize that many things can alter

gene expression, things such as viruses, heavy metals etc...This can

happen in utero (mom's exposure to enviornmental toxins through food,

air, water etc..or passing on of a viral issue), or after a child is

born and say gets vaccinated, or exposed to enviornmental insults

such as lead, antimony, mercury and so on. So when someone says they

found a gene associatd with autism, well that does not mean that gene

causes autism, all it means is it possibly could, just like with any

other genetic marker for heart disease, cancer etc....

Nagla

>

> I guess I'm having trouble still with the genetic idea. Is there

any

> other disease with a genetic link that affects boys so much more

than

> girls? And I wonder if of the girls who do have autism do they have

> higher levels of male hormone? Just curious.

> >

> > French Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Autism

> > <http://www.ednews.org/articles/5883/1/French-Researchers-

Identify-Gene-Link

> > <http://www.ednews.org/articles/5883/1/French-Researchers-

Identify-Gene-Link>

> > ed-to-Autism/Page1.html>

> > PARIS (AFP) - French researchers have discovered a new gene

linked to

> > autism, a mental disability which prevents sufferers from

> > communicating and

> > forming relationships normally and whose causes are unknown. The

study,

> > published Sunday online by Nature Genetics journal, found that

all of five

> > autistic children studied had anomalies in the SHANK3 gene,

> > responsible for

> > making the connections in the brain necessary for language

development.

> >

> > Jimmy Kilpatrick

> > Editor

> > EdNews.org <http://www.ednews.org/ <http://www.ednews.org/>>

> > http://www.EdNews.org <http://www.EdNews.org>

> >

> > P.O. Box 17392, Sugar Land, Texas 77496-17392 Phone: 832 814-7463

> >

December 27, 2006

Yes, there are other diseases or syndromes that are gene linked that are

more prevalent in boys. Two such syndromes are FG Syndrome and Opitz G/BBB

Syndrome. My 18 year old son who has autism also has Opitz G/BBB Syndrome.

Martha, , TX

January 3, 2007

Nagla, autism caused by 22q13 deletion is not a matter of gene expression being

altered by environmental factors, although that may be the cause of other cases

of autism.

This particular genetic disorder is caused by a mutation -- a piece of

chromosome 22 breaks off near the 13th band, which causes the SHANK3 gene to be

deleted. This genetic deletion occurrs when the egg or sperm were being formed,

long before conception. In a few cases, called " mosaic " , the deletion occurs in

a very early embryonic stage (for example, 4 cells) so the individual is missing

the gene in just a percentage of the cells of his or her body (ex. 25%).

Besides autism, one of the most common signs of the disorder is cracked, flaky,

slow-growing, or otherwise unusual toenails.

Reliable testing for the deletion was not available before last year. If you

want to have your child tested for this, call the genetics clinic at Texas

Children's Hospital or you can go to your local genetics clinic and request a

" micro-array " test (they'll probably send the sample to Kleberg Genetics

Center). This deletion can be hard to detect and most individuals with 22q13d

go through 4 rounds of genetic testing before they get their answer, so even if

you've been through all the genetic testing in the past, it might be worthwhile

to revisit it with the new technology that's available.

The good news is that the 22q13 research looks very promising. There's an

experimental trial of intranasal insulin and in Germany and there's a

methylation study which will be starting in Italy.

Geraldine

Re: French Researchers Identify Gene Linked

to Autism