| Right now, genetics seem the only real connection | | | | main culprit to the genetic side of autism. If a child |
| for a cause and effect in regards to autism. | | | | receives two mutated copies of this chromosome |
| Genetic research is being done right now and the | | | | the amino acids that are a part of food proteins |
| call for research from the National Autistic Society | | | | cannot be broken down. This would lead to a |
| is desperate. They are willing to look at any | | | | mutation in the development of the brain and |
| research in the realm of genetics and autism and | | | | particularly the part of the brain that controls |
| will help correlate future research with what they | | | | communication and social skills. He adds that the |
| have in their archives now. There are some | | | | presence of phenylketonuria may call another |
| promising breakthroughs but there is not enough | | | | malfunction of the brain that produces behavior |
| evidence to support a grounded theory. The only | | | | that will be diagnosed as autism. Since the PKU |
| general theme that has been found is that there | | | | can be detected at birth and when detected, a |
| is a genetic link between close relatives and the | | | | special diet thwarts the negative side effects; |
| sufferers of autism. | | | | both PKU and genetics have duel roles in the |
| The search for the specific gene that causes this | | | | creation of autism. |
| link is not under study. The Collaborative Autism | | | | The collaboration to find data and share research |
| Project and the International Genetic Study have | | | | on autism is still in its infancy. The collaboration |
| been studying chromosomes that might have an | | | | process between researchers only began in 1996. |
| influence on whether a child is autistic or not. This | | | | This means only a decade has been dedicated to |
| sounds difficult, but researchers are not even | | | | finding the source of the disorder. The gene |
| sure that it is just one gene that causes autism. If | | | | mapping projects that have fascinated |
| more than one gene affects autism outcomes, | | | | researchers for years have yielded results to the |
| then even though the chance of finding one of | | | | cause and some cures of many diseases since it |
| those genes is statistically greater, the excitement | | | | has begun. This give hopes to people who have |
| and following research may ignore the others. | | | | autistic children and also hope to prospective |
| Both research facilities have come to one | | | | parents who think that might be predisposed to |
| conclusion but it is a weak one at best. They | | | | the gene. Remember though, if the gene is found |
| believe that the gene might be found in | | | | it is only a step to the cure. The gene's discovery |
| chromosome 7 of our genetic makeup. This | | | | will only allow the medical community to let |
| means they have found a possible haystack and | | | | parents know they have a predisposition before |
| now they have to look for the needle. | | | | pregnancy and once pregnant the disorder has a |
| Dr. Michael Dougherty of the American Institute | | | | good chance of occurring. Only time and patience |
| of Biological Sciences argues the pure genetic | | | | will be needed to find both the cause and the |
| cause theory. He thinks that there is a | | | | cure of this disturbing disorder. All the parents can |
| combination between both genetics and | | | | do for their child that has the disorder is to love |
| environmental factors. This could be true because | | | | them and give them the quality of life that they |
| outside environmental changes affect both | | | | deserve. As with all diseases, autism will someday |
| phenotypical and genotypical characteristics of an | | | | be a thing of the past. |
| organism. He believes that chromosome 12 is the | | | | |