A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine links an abnormality in Chromosome 16 to autism. While the study found this evidence in a very small number of subjects, researches claim this finding is evidence that our genes are one of the causes of autism and could lead to the discovery of other genetic links as well.
The specific defect: a deletion of a section of Chromosome 16.
The evidence suggests that the defect occurs sometime after conception, although having family history of autism puts fetuses at higher risk of developing the defect. Doctors believe that approximately 90% of all cases of autism are inherited. Researches claim a pre-natal test for the deletion is years away.
Read the story referenced above in Business Week on line by clicking on the title of this post. The article contains a link to the actual study in the New England Journal of Medicine, if you want the nitty-gritty statistical version.
Does this study make me worried? Not a bit. It just confirms my long-held belief that my children are products of their family's DNA.
Do I think potentially autistic babies will be aborted? Probably not. If, as the study states, 90% of autism is genetically linked, then those who face raising children with the abnormality are very likely already dealing with it in themselves or other family members. Educating families on how to help kids on the autism spectrum will greatly alleviate many of the concerns parents have about their children who are different.
Autism is a quirk, not a death sentence. Let's keep it in perspective.
5 comments:
Don't believe anything CNN or these huge conglomerates of established medical professionals tell you. It's the ethyl mercury preservative in Thiomersal. Common sense, people.
This is strong evidence, people. And there's lots, lots more.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/22/eveningnews/main625458.shtml
-Paul
Paul,
If ethyl mercury were the cause of autism, it "might" explain my son's condition. He was born in late 1999 when vaccine manufacturers were ordered to stop using it as a preservative. But it does not explain why my daughter has autism as well. She was born in 2003 and has received no vaccinations containing Thimerosal. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion on this matter, but I still believe what my common sense dictates - that autism results from a genetic abnormality.
Why must so many parents feel they have to blame someone else for their children's difficulties? It easy to see that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - unless YOU are the tree.
P. S.
CNN did not conduct the study to which I referred.
Paul - I assumed you made the first comment as well. Did you? Sorry if I incorrectly connected the two.
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