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The evolution of the human brain linked to regulation of autism-linked genes

Martin

A paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution has linked the evolution of the large human brain to autism. "we discovered that the most abundant type of neocortical neurons—layer 2/3 intratelencephalic excitatory neurons—has evolved exceptionally quickly in the human lineage compared to other apes. Surprisingly, this accelerated evolution was accompanied by the dramatic down-regulation of autism-associated genes, which was likely driven by polygenic positive selection specific to the human lineage." https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/42/9/msaf189/8245036?login=false

From the discussion: " ... lower expression of ASD-linked genes in humans than in chimpanzees increases risk for ASD in the human lineage. Overall, our analysis suggests that natural selection on gene expression may have increased the prevalence of ASD." 

Essentially, it is saying that autism is a by-product of us not being apes (except in the taxonomic sense), but being human.

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  • in reply to Martin

    So can we call NT's a bunch of monkey's?

    Interesting, many of us have said that without us tinkering away with things we'd never have made it out of caves, maybe this study shows some truth in this feeling?

    I'm glad it shows that evolution and not vaccines or any others such nonsense is the "cause" of autism

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    So can we call NT's a bunch of monkey's?
    Martin said:
    Homo sapientissimus, perhaps?

    Jokes aside, if I've understood correctly, I fear this is drifting away from what the paper actually says.

    It doesn't suggest that autistic people are “more evolved” than allistic people, or that autism itself was selected because it was superior.

    It makes a different point entirely: some gene-expression changes in the human lineage (compared with other apes) might have been favoured overall, while also increasing vulnerability to autism as a by-product.

    In other words, it's not saying that evolution "chose" or "favoured" autism, or that being autistic is better than not being autistic. The discussion perhaps also risks sliding into autistic- and/or Aspie-supremacy territory. 

    By contrast, ScienceDaily explained it like this when reporting on the research:

    "The findings suggest autism is part of the trade-off that made humans so cognitively advanced"

    And, in the title, "Autism may be the price of human intelligence"

    ScienceDaily - Autism may be price of human intelligence

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  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    So can we call NT's a bunch of monkey's?
    Martin said:
    Homo sapientissimus, perhaps?

    Jokes aside, if I've understood correctly, I fear this is drifting away from what the paper actually says.

    It doesn't suggest that autistic people are “more evolved” than allistic people, or that autism itself was selected because it was superior.

    It makes a different point entirely: some gene-expression changes in the human lineage (compared with other apes) might have been favoured overall, while also increasing vulnerability to autism as a by-product.

    In other words, it's not saying that evolution "chose" or "favoured" autism, or that being autistic is better than not being autistic. The discussion perhaps also risks sliding into autistic- and/or Aspie-supremacy territory. 

    By contrast, ScienceDaily explained it like this when reporting on the research:

    "The findings suggest autism is part of the trade-off that made humans so cognitively advanced"

    And, in the title, "Autism may be the price of human intelligence"

    ScienceDaily - Autism may be price of human intelligence

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