"Scientists hail autism breakthrough"

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not sure if this is new news- it comes up on yahoo news, from the PA within the last hour, but the guardian has nothing on it, and the bbc has the thing below from over a month ago...

so apologies if i am repeating articles...

http://www.pressassociation.com/compone ... efrom=home

Autism research has hit a breakthrough point equivalent to the one that revolutionised the understanding and treatment of cancer 30 years ago, it has been claimed. Skip related content
Three major studies have for the first time pinpointed genetic mechanisms underlying autistic disorders, including ones which are relatively common.

no actual facts, however...and form the bbc website- 19 march

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6369347.stm
Scientists have found new autism genes by scanning the largest collection of families with multiple cases of autism ever assembled. The monumental task of studying the 1,200 families took more than 120 scientists from more than 50 institutions across 19 countries

- i added the bbc link, as its also interesting... and i had not heard it at the time.

sorry- im having a really dyslexic day- the bbc link is from 2007. just ignore me...

here is the correct bbc link...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8020837.stm

The changes influence genes which help form and maintain connections between brain cells.

The Nature study highlighted one common genetic variant in particular which, if fixed would cut cases of autism by 15%. Previously, other genetic variants have been linked to autism, but they are all relatively rare. The largest study, led by the University of Pennsylvania, focused on more than 10,000 people.

It found several genetic variants commonly associated with ASD, all of them pointing two specific genes found on chromosome 5 which control production of proteins which help cells stick to each other, and make nervous connections.
They also linked ASD rather less strongly to a group of about 30 genes which produce proteins that play a key role in enabling brain cells to migrate to correct places, and to connect to neighbouring cells."


.....so- would the last sentence re protiens- be related in any way to amino acids etc, and the use of ammino suppliments?

and form the times... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_a ... 188340.ece

"The results are especially significant because the variants lie between two genes, called CDH9 and CDH10, which are known to play an important role in forming nerve connections in the brain.

Hakon Hakonarson, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the United States, who led the research, said: “Because other autism researchers have made intriguing suggestions that autism arises from abnormal connections among brain cells during early development, it is very compelling to find evidence that mutations in genes involved in brain interconnections increase a child’s risk of autism.”

Philip Johnson, the hospital’s chief scientific officer, said: “This comprehensive research opens the door to more focused investigations into the causes of autism disorders. It moves the field of autism research significantly ahead, similar to the way oncology research progressed a few decades ago with the discovery of specific genes that give rise to cancers. "

...............................as usual, it seems to concentrate on research in children, due to the logan's run type fate of autistic adults.

This might be a dulpicate thread see

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt97748.html

It is just ANOTHER example of the garbage that a lot of "news" agencies do. They tell white lies and half truths to make things sound better than they are, and then state someone's dumb assumption. HECK, you don't know WHAT to believe anymore.

The GOOD news is that, if you imply the SAME amount of thought to scifi, WOW! They have discovered how to transport objects through the years, and we will be traveling without planes, airplanes, or any other vehicle within 5 years. It will only cost $.10 to go around the world!

i just lol

especially at:

Why does every NT focus on why autists don't speak, as if all other symptoms were secondary and making them speak would solve everything?

A cure for being the interesting individual that I am? No thank you.

Because the NTs, social animals that they are, notice that first and foremost. I think the majority of other characteristics associated with ASDs can also be found in NTs of various stripes.

That discovery is on the front page of the Daily Mail, so I guess it can't be a very important one.

More seriously,

I wouldn't think so. They seem to be referring to differences in genes that code for the production of very specific proteins in very specific parts of the brain.....no matter how many cans of amino acid supplements a person takes, it would make no difference to that. Amino acids are the "building blocks" of all proteins, but it's the blueprint that's been altered, so the house will be what that blueprint dictates it will be, regardless of how many extra bricks get delivered to the building site. And they seem to be talking about the developing brain, in pre-natal and perhaps young post-natal babies.