For the first time, scientists say they’ve recreated common autism traits in mice by mutating a single gene, a finding that bolsters support for the idea that autism has genetic roots and could help develop drugs to treat the disorder.
The gene mutation, known as Shank3, is among hundreds that have been linked with autism. When present in mice, the animals exhibited common characteristics of autism such as compulsive, repetitive behavior and a disinterest in socializing, according to study findings published online in the journal Nature this week.
“We now have a very robust model with a known cause for autistic-like behaviors. We can figure out the neural circuits responsible for these behaviors, which could lead to novel targets for treatment,” says Guoping Feng, senior author of the study and a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
While not all individuals with autism are affected by Shank3, Feng and his colleagues are now studying whether others with the disorder are impacted by similar genes, which allow brain cells to talk to each other. If this is the case, he says, it may be possible to develop treatments to improve communication between brain cells, which could minimize behaviors associated with autism.
a) good news
b) watch your hat and coat
It’s important to remember what happened when they found the marker(s) for Down Syndrome.
David Wetherow
Parksville, BC
Yeah they will use the Shank3 testing to find out if a fetus has autism and if they do they will be aborted. That is what happened when they found the markers for Down Syndrome. It was used to test if a fetus had the mark of it before it was even born. I knew this day would come and now I hate it with a passion. I am autistic. What a heartless world we live in.
This world would not be where it is, particularly in the fields of science, medicine, and computers, were it not for those individuals who have been diagnosed as having either Asperger’s Syndrome or, in some cases, high functioning autism. We need these individuals.
Another name for Aspenger’s Syndrome is the Geek Syndrome because a LOT of Silicon Valley types have it. Then answer me this Tess why is our unemployment rate according to Autism Speaks is a WHOPPING 70% for adults with autism. Why? We all are not able to do math like Rainman. I know I can’t and I am autistic. Math was my WORST subject in school along with physical education.