Is autism genetic?

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It's PARTIALLY genetic. Sometimes, it is what is called "idiopathic" (the word "idiopathic" has nothing to do with "idiot." It means of "unknown origin").

Some people (including myself) don't have any autism at all in their family.

I would never discourage somebody from having children because they are autistic. It is not "heritable" enough to justify this.

There are a great many families who have members who are "eccentric," yet who are high-achievers, despite their so-called "social deficiencies." Probably some of these people would be diagnosed with autism today.

Then, there are many autistic folks who are viable persons, even if they are not "high-achievers." I fall into this category.

That's pretty much what I've been saying----but you probably said it better.

It's pretty random. Like you said, you could have two non-autistic people produce a baby with a possible predisposition towards autism---but some will pick up the full symptoms, while others only get the "phenotype," and still others become totally "normal."

My mother smoked while I was in the womb----then again, EVERYBODY smoked in the early 60s, and most kids came out fine.

Back to the subject: I was small, but not premature. They really weren't that precise about "due dates" in the early 60s.

Sorry about that.

But it does, in a way. Because of the speculation that prematurity could cause autism. I don't feel I veered off the topic all that much.

All right. It's your thread. But you could have put it nicer, instead of "calling me out." I wouldn't "call you out" like that.

I'm glad you don't feel "bad." I wouldn't want you to feel "bad."

Sure, there is much "derailing" going on. But what has that got to do with me? It's not right. My comment had everything to do with "prematurity." It's part of a discussion. Discussions make us smarter.

I'll say no more about it.

I just feel there’s too many autistic people denying themselves the pleasure of having children because of the notion that they are “defective.”

Isabella pretty much “put the nail on the head.” (I didn’t get the idiom right---it's "hit the nail on the head.")

Non-autistic people could have autistic children.

Autistic people can have “normal” children.

Being autistic alone shouldn’t prevent someone from having children.

I didn't even want to start a new thread on this, the mods forced it. I'm not really interested, I was just clarifying that most autistic parents seem to have autistic children (some parents here on this site have 3 children on the spectrum). I think genetics play more of a part in autism than being born prematurely does.

It probably does.

I just feel the whole idea that autistic people are, invariably, "genetically defective" is not correct.

I'm not really speaking to you, Joe. I'm just talking in general about folks who feel like they are "less" than other people because they have autism.

It's sort of personal because that's what people thought of me back when I was younger.....that I was "less" than other people...that I was "defective." That's all hogwash. And the "proof is in the pudding."