Is Autism genetic?

Scorpion,  I laughed at your last minute qualification comment, "as far as I'm aware".  So true

And, as way of contrast, my development in the womb and birth was pretty normal, as far as I'm aware.

Hope good over-view of "womb" and birth factors,, here are mine

I was underweight, pre-mature, jaundice, non-*** feed, pulled out with stirups(still got the marks on my head), the runt of the litter of 3. Mother smoked, drank worked in noise factory at the time. What a wonderful start to life. Sewer Rats had a better delivery and upbringing than me.

My mum was under a lot of stress during her pregnancy with me, because her mum was dying of terminal cancer, and my  mum only found this out when she was four months pregnant. Her parents were living in Los Angeles at the time (her dad taught at the university there), and so my mum  and dad visited them in order to offer moral support. My mum's dad went for long walks in the mountains (his way of dealing with the stress) ,and he wanted my  mum to accompany him.  They walked to high-altitudes, which is not advised during pregnancy. Also, my mum was not eating or sleeping.

When she came back from America, the scan showed that I had stopped growing, and she had to take bed-rest. The consultant thought that I might need to be delivered early, but I eventually started growing again. I was born on time, the birth was an uncomplicated one, but I was only 5 pounds 4 ounces. NOw, I am naturally slight and small-boned, and both my parents are small and slender too, as is my brother. However, we think that I should have been around 6 pounds in weight. My brother, who was born after a stress-free pregnancy, was a normal 7 pounds 2 ounces at birth. He does not have ASpergers. It makes me wonder, and I am sure there is a link, as is my mum.

This is interesting! We are currently waiting to have Genetic Testing carried out on my family due to my son's autism. We are actually looking forward to finding out what, if anything, it can tell us about the condition.

Hope - your post is of particular interest to me - all through my pregnancy (due to numerous previous miscarriages) I was stressed and also had hormone injections for the first 6 weeks to 'maintain' the pregnancy. When Jack was born he had the cord wrapped round his neck twice and didn't immediately cry out - in fact he just stared up at us as if to say 'What the hell just happened?'

Probably most talents and personality types have a genetic factor, 

The foxp2 gene is interesting, 

en.wikipedia.org/.../FOXP2

I think it is partly genetic, but in some cases intra-uterine 'events' can trigger it. For example, maternal stress, the effect of hormones, chemical interactions etc, could 'switch-on' the predisposition genes. It is at root genetic, but not 100 per cent so.

hi - as far as I've read there is certainly a genetic component which may be influenced by environmental triggers.  There'll be info on the home page.  It sometimes runs in families to a degree.  Some of the posts on here mention that.   Also there's an organisation called Research Autism which might interest you.  

1.) I suppose genetic means that the existing environment factors have no effect on the state of the original condition, i.e born that way.

2.) Or is genetic "condition" meaning under certain environment stimulas and reactions the condition is formed by genetic weakness.

3.) Or is it something that can happen to anyone over there life time by an external factor, so it not genetic but purely environmental.

Personally, I believe it is a root genetic(1.) and genetic condition(2.) which depending on the environmental factors places you on a genetic spectrum....... It is a sliding genetic scale which alters overtime by factors, but is still underlying. I think everyone in the world has genetic weak points, hence science is looking at screening, with autism it just shows itself up before you are 80 and defunked

The question we should be asking,, can there be a genetic repair. Scientist are still looking at hormone treatments, thyroid treatments, brain stimulation treatments, balance treatments,,, so I believe the genetic plays,, the weak point but it can be repaired,, even stronger... like a wound and the stronger than skin scar. If they find the replace repair mechanism for Autism genetic and autism conditional genetic spectrum, it will be a growth time for the whole of humanity. Think about that, artists, scientists and mathemations becoming the people to the people.  by Genetic weakness/genetic strenght to genetic strenght to genetic strenght strenght.

On a side note,, genetic stem cell material can be got from abortion fetus which most of this ends up in Switzerlands millionares health clinics and also a woman menstrual blood is said to be drunk as a blood of life called ambrosia the blood of Christ. All sounds very sick, but this is the genetic material of life and if you are a very rich person,, you will buy an extra stairway. If you are an Alpha list person with an IQ of 160 plus belonging to an ancient line family you will see this as a benefit to humanity,, living longer and in better health by buying some "PREBORN PUREE"

http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/1394/26/

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/424392/stem-cell-gamble/

The hidden world of genetic repair using dead babies puree, demonic.