I had a quick look at the original scientific paper. They are looking at autism-associated copy number variants CNVs, where there are more copies or fewer, of particular genes or lengths of DNA. They are not looking at single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs, or single nucleotide variants SNVs (these two are similar, except the latter disrupts the amino acid sequence in a protein and the former may not). SNPs, as far as I know, play a larger role in most people's autism than either CNVs or SNVs, which are usually described as 'rare'.
So, this study is only looking at a subset of the genetic variations that have been associated with autism, and one that is relatively rare. CNVs are found in only 5–10% of autistic people - usually those with more profound difficulties.
So, no 'cure' on the horizon, and the research is only relevant to a minority of autistic people.
I had a quick look at the original scientific paper. They are looking at autism-associated copy number variants CNVs, where there are more copies or fewer, of particular genes or lengths of DNA. They are not looking at single nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs, or single nucleotide variants SNVs (these two are similar, except the latter disrupts the amino acid sequence in a protein and the former may not). SNPs, as far as I know, play a larger role in most people's autism than either CNVs or SNVs, which are usually described as 'rare'.
So, this study is only looking at a subset of the genetic variations that have been associated with autism, and one that is relatively rare. CNVs are found in only 5–10% of autistic people - usually those with more profound difficulties.
So, no 'cure' on the horizon, and the research is only relevant to a minority of autistic people.
Thanks, Some helpful information, That's a real disappointment for me though, that its not a bit sooner just to help with certain traits! you are very knowledgeable my liege!
Where SNPs are overwhelmingly inherited, a relatively larger proportion of CNVs occur de novo. This is where genetic deletions or duplications happen spontaneously during sperm and/or egg development. Parents without autism traits, or autism in their family history, can therefore have autistic children, and as CNVs are associated with autism with more profound difficulties, these children can be badly affected by their autism.
I have a theory that parents with hereditary autistic traits, or who are autistic themselves, are instinctively able cope with the autism of their children. Whereas the entirely allistic parents whose children are the result of de novo CNVs are not. Plus their children are likely to be more profoundly affected. This might be the behind some of the more extreme examples of 'autism mom syndrome'.
