A definitive cause for autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) has remained elusive , although the best picture so far seems to be one of a mix of hereditary and environmental factors . This suggest that any genes imply with the condition by necessity are being passed on from generation to generation . A new studynow suggeststhat these gene are being positively choose for .
The study , published inPLOS Genetics , looked at the preponderance of alleles , or factor variant , commonly associated with an increased risk of ASD . The researchers discovered that these variants were happen in much larger numbers than would be expected by chance , and they suggest that this may be because they are also connect to other genes implicate in cognitive power .
The authorswrite thatthis incontrovertible selection between the cistron thought to contribute to autism and those that might promote intelligence may explain why autism is such a prevalent stipulation , especially when it seems like it would have been select against during human evolution .
“ It might be unmanageable to conceive of why the orotund issue of cistron variate that together give advance to traits like ASD are retained in human population – why are n’t they just eliminated by organic evolution ? ” say co - source Joel Gelernter , professor of genetic science and of neuroscience at Yale University , in astatement . “ The theme is that during phylogeny these variance that have positive effects on cognitive routine were selected , but at a cost – in this case an increase risk of autism spectrum disorder . ”
The author intend that the positivist relationship might be down to the fact that many of the gene variants found to be associated with ASD are also involved in molecular functions that affect the conception of new nerve cell . And so while condition such as autism may be limiting to those who inherit genes that increase their risk for it , the genes are good for our specie as a whole as they may help in “ cerebral achievement ” .
The study is interesting as a potential explanation , or at least hint , as to why autism is so prevalent , but it still does n’t fully explicate the causes behind the stipulation . These gene variant are thought to increase a individual ’s risk , but that means you could still bear them and not show sign of autism , and frailty versa . It ’s a complicated status and we still have a long way of life to go before we have a full account for it .
