Good news- Spectrum 10k study has been postponed

Because such studies can be done, they will be done. This being acknowledged, the question for autism advocacy groups and the autistic community is, 'who do you want to do the research?' Personally, I would rather it be done by relatively unbiased academics in a country which enforces ethical standards, than by a commercial enterprise, an autism hostile entity (such as Autism Speaks), or in a country with an appalling human rights record, like China.

Because such studies can be done, they will be done. This being acknowledged, the question for autism advocacy groups and the autistic community is, 'who do you want to do the research?' Personally, I would rather it be done by relatively unbiased academics in a country which enforces ethical standards, than by a commercial enterprise, an autism hostile entity (such as Autism Speaks), or in a country with an appalling human rights record, like China.

Exactly, it's important to look into who is doing these studies and why, and to see who is funding them.

I would rather it be done with full, advance consultation and involvement with autistic people and preferably led by autistic researchers who genuinely have our interests at heart.  I'd also prefer it to look at areas of immediate concern and help to autistic people, rather than give yet more focus to identifying genes (as if they're going to be able to pare it down to just a few genes anyway). 

Plus, for me at least, it's more about each of our personal decisions about whether to be involved or not and ensuring that these decisions are as well informed as possible.  Clearly I'm not sending them my DNA nor that of any family members but I accept that others might look at the arguments and counter arguments and  come to a different conclusion.