Scientists May Be Closer to Explaining a Long-Standing Autism Mystery
Summary
A study published in Nature found that disrupting many different autism-linked genes in human cell models produced similar changes in gene activity. The researchers also identified the X-chromosome gene ZFX as a possible contributor to the lower rate of autism diagnoses among females, but they said further research is needed.Key Facts
- Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital led the study.
- The team tested disruptions to autism-associated genes in human cell models.
- Many gene disruptions caused similar changes in overall gene expression, especially in other autism-linked genes.
- The researchers called this pattern “transcriptomic convergence.”
- Autism is diagnosed about four to five times more often in males than in females, according to the article.
- ZFX is on the X chromosome and is among genes that can remain active on both X chromosomes in females.
- The study does not explain how an individual child may develop or what interventions they may need.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
