A Patchwork Mind (possible cause of autism)

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I came across an article in the Jul/Aug 2009 edition of Scientific American Mind magazine, entitled A Patwork Mind, written by Melinda Wenner.

This article discussed the various contributions of both parents genes on thier childrens development. Specifically regarding something refered to as a genetic "imprint".

These imprints cause whatever gene they are assosiated with to be supressed, insofar as it's protien synthesis. Or something to that effect. Basically, it allows either the mothers, or the fathers gene to take dominance, and that the imprints are the cause for several interesting phenomina not explainable in earlier genetic research.

Most interesting in the article however, is that preliminary research suggests that autism may be related to an error in one of the fathers genetic imprints, or possibly several imprints. Again, it's a preliminary article without actual hardcore fact or study driven results. Nonetheless, quite remarkably interesting.

The facts about imprinting are quite valid however. An imprint is methyl group, CH3, which is attached to the dna. It prevents rna transcription of that particular gene.

The article goes on to discuss a few other intersting things, such as different areas of the brain development seem to be determined entirely from paternal or maternal influence. And that we really are a patchwork of our parents etc.

But the part about mental development and imprinting is what caught my attention.

My understanding of how this works:
These Imprints act to "silence" a gene. During protien synthesis, rna is transcribed from dna, and then used to create protien. The imprint prevents that particular gene from being transcribed. However, it's partner (the conribution from the other parent) is typically not also imprinted and will transcribe into rna, to be used in protien synthesis.

These imprints are inheritable, as a male will pass his particular imprint pattern on in his contribution to his sons dna, and then his son will pass along the same imprinting pattern to his children etc. The same applies to women, they contibute the same imprint pattern inherited from thier mother.

This is likely linked to the possible cause of autism, and numerous other conditions. As there is likely a genetic contributor to autism. And, as no particular gene, or gene combination has as of yet been determined to cause it, the imprinting process is the most likely culprit.

What do you guys think?

Interesting find and idea. Methylation and its effect on gene expression are known phenomena, but their heritability and effect on neural development in a fetus are, as you say, unknown.

Since autism is generally regarded to be a result of "different wiring" in the brain, researchers will have to tease out what factors in neural development during gestation influence this wiring, and what if any factors after birth are involved. Then too, there is the claim (questionable?) that autism and other ASDs are at least in part a predisposition that is somehow triggered by environment (or possibly epigenetic) effects.

In other words, this is another interesting and possibly useful clue to the biological/genetic underpinnings of AS/ASDs.

I wonder... Are those imprints are epigenetics phenomenoms?