Major Study Identifies Gene Linked to Autism

Toronto researchers find gene that may be responsible for common autism behaviours

Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto have discovered a gene may be responsible for the behaviours commonly linked to autism. The study published in the May 13 issue of the science journal Nature , looked at genetic data from 9,349 people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and 8,332 without the condition. The newly pinpointed gene, dubbed PTCHD1-AS, provides “a new entry point to study the biology of ASD, sharpening our unde…

Scientists identify genetic mechanisms connected to core autism behaviors

A long‑overlooked stretch of the human genome appears to play a distinct role in shaping the social and stereotypic repetitive behaviors that define Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), without affecting learning or other cognitive abilities, according to a major new study published in Nature.

Major study identifies gene linked to autism

A newly identified genetic pathway linked to autism spectrum disorder could help scientists better understand the condition’s core social and behavioural traits, according to a major Canadian-led study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

A New Genetic Entry Point for Autism Traits

Can autism's core traits be separated from cognitive ability? Researchers have identified PTCHD1-AS, a long non-coding RNA gene that regulates social interaction and repetitive behaviors without affecting learning or memory. By tracing this gene's influence to synaptic plasticity in the striatum, the study provides a "molecular pattern" for future precision treatments aimed specifically at the hallmark features of the autism spectrum.

Major SickKids Study Identifies Non-Coding Gene Associated with Key Social

A groundbreaking discovery has unveiled a previously underestimated region of the human genome as a pivotal factor in the manifestation of core autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits. This region, characterized by a long non-coding RNA gene named PTCHD1-AS, resides on the X chromosome and exhibits a distinct influence on social interaction and repetitive behaviors in […]