Understanding Autism Through Genetics

Michael J. Dougherty

articlehighlights

Over the last decade the genomics revolution has profoundly changed our understanding of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In the process, ASD has become a model for the challenges of complex traits because:

There are no definitive “biomarkers” for autism or ASD;
Scientists are still uncovering valuable information about the relative influences of new, or de novo genetic mutations on the heritability of ASD cases;
Recent findings indicate that ASD causation involves neurobiology, that is, the development and/or function of cells in the brain (neurons).