Gene Mutation Tied To Autism

Scientists Plan To Study The Mutation In Mice To Learn More About Autism Spectrum Disorders

(WebMD)  Scientists announced Thursday that that they've found a new way to study a gene mutation linked to autism.

The researchers report that they have genetically engineered mice with a genetic mutation seen in some people with autism spectrum disorders.

The mutation involves a portion of a gene that makes a protein called neuroligin-3, which helps nerve cells communicate with each other. The researchers found that mice with the neuroligin-3 gene mutation were less social than mice without that mutation. The mutated mice were also speedier at navigating a watery maze.

Obviously, mice are very different from people. But the mutated mice "may be a useful model for studying autism-related behaviors," write Thomas Sudhof, M.D., and colleagues in today's edition of Science Express.

Sudhof, a molecular genetics professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, notes that the mice didn't have structural problems in the brain.

"What sets this mouse model apart is that the mouse shows highly selective social deficits and memory enhancement, but as far as we can tell, no other pathologies. This makes it a potentially useful model for a subset of people with autism spectrum disorders with just such characteristics," Sudhof states in a news release.

Sudhof's team isn't arguing that the mutation they studied is solely responsible for autism.

In fact, other autism gene researchers have suggested that autism may be influenced by 100 or more different genes.

Although researchers haven't pinned down all of the genetic or environmental influences on autism, they may have a new way to study autism in lab mice, Sudhof's study shows.

[kelliann5]

Second, to rational_1%u2026.you said:

%u201CBut that argument is the equivalent to me having a cold, eating bark from some South American tree, feeling better three days later and concluding that something in the bark is the cure for the common cold.%u201D

No. Here is the %u201Cargument%u201D:

1.) My son was injected with mercury, A KNOWN NEUROTOXIN, which he received via his childhood immunizations during the mid to late 90%u2019s.

2.) To date, NO study has shown that injecting mercury, A KNOWN NEUROTOXIN, into an individual is SAFE...AT ANY LEVEL.

3.) Shortly thereafter, my son started exhibiting %u201Csymptoms%u201D consistent with neurological injury.

Life didn%u2019t %u201Cdeal%u201D my son this devastating blow%u2026.I did%u2026.by allowing the injection of this neurotoxin into his body.

This has nothing to do with %u201Cfate%u201D and everything to do with %u201Ccommon sense%u201D.

NO ONE can make an argument for knowingly injecting a neurotoxin into a child. NO ONE.

And the fact of the matter is%u2026..we%u2019ve (society) done exactly that.

Kelli Ann Davis

[kelliann5]

First, to Mythoughtsr%u2026you said:

%u201CFINALLY, we are starting to see the obvious and definitive proof that Autism is NOT CAUSED BY A VACCINE.%u201D

I didn%u2019t read anything in this article that shows %u201Cdefinitive proof%u201D regarding the causality between (for or against) autism and vaccines.

What I did read was this:

In fact, other autism gene researchers have SUGGESTED that autism may be influenced by 100 or more different genes.

Hardly %u201Cdefinitive%u201D.

I noticed this statement as well:

Although, researchers haven''t pinned down all of the genetic OR environmental influences on autism%u2026.

Again, hardly %u201Cdefinitive%u201D.

Furthermore, here%u2019s what Secretary Leavitt%u2019s Science Advisor had to say in his opening remarks during the IOM hosted %u201CAutism and the Environment%u201D Workshop this past April:

%u201CThe Planning Committee recognized that vaccine constituents, especially organic chemicals used as preservatives or adjuvants, obviously qualify as environmental agents that warrant attention. In other words, our research agenda should include studies of any and all environmental agents that plausibly might contribute to causing or exacerbating autism -- irrespective of the medium of exposure.%u201D

Kelli Ann Davis

[rational_1]

I agree with you Mythoughtsr. Unfortunately people often confuse correlation with causality - "my child had the vaccine, a few weeks/months later he''s diagnosed with autism, so therefore the vaccine caused the autism". I can''t say I blame them - they''re trying to make sense of what life has dealt them. But that argument is the equivalent to me having a cold, eating bark from some South American tree, feeling better three days later and concluding that something in the bark is the cure for the common cold. Proving causality, especially in a genetically diverse population of humans, is tough. As Dr. Sudhof mentioned in the article, there are likely many genes that may play a role in the development of austism, making it extremely difficult to study (drug addiction and schizophrenia are two other multigenetic disorders). And even if ONE gene is responsible (eg., Huntington''s disease) and you identify it, even then you don''t necessarily quickly find a cure (again eg. Huntington''s).

[mythoughtsr]

FINALLY, we are starting to see the obvious and definitive proof that Autism is NOT CAUSED BY A VACCINE. Look, I''m really sad and sorry for the families whose children have Autism, like three of my own children. However, the mercury has BEEN OUT FOR YEARS and yet the instances of Autism are still rising. It is NOT CAUSED by the shot. Sure, the timing of the shot usually coincides with the timing of the emergence of Autism and sure, families have a right to know why but it''s SO OBVIOUS that it''s not the shot and people really need to start moving on, knocking off the bogus lawsuits and move towards finding a solution or a cure now that we know FOR SURE that it''s genetic.