Briana_Lopez wrote:
Is there any other way that the de nova gene could be mutated other than being from the age of the parents, particularly the father? I have aspergers, but the age of my parents has nothing to do with the glitch in my genes. My mother was 20 and my father was 18 when I was conceived.
22Q11 gene deletion syndrome is not dependent upon age or gender and is often associated with autism and schizophrenia. The mutation that causes fragile X syndrome is also associated with autism, and is specific to males.
22Q11 gene deletion syndrome is also often associated with many serious health conditions. Not all individuals with the gene deletion will experience those serious health conditions, though.
There has been research on paternal exposure to stress that through epigenetics is suggested to potentially effect sexual-dimorphism of the brain and is associated with the conditions of schizophrenia and autism.
Interestingly, paternal stress is suggested as a potential factor in the dymasculinization of males as well as changes in the sexual dimorphism of the brain, that could lead to potential problems with language development in humans. However, the research has been limited to mouse models.
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/31/33/11748.full
Studies show prenatal maternal exposure to stress as a potential factor influencing levels of prenatal testosterone, evidenced as masculinized features in females, per research that suggests that 2d/4d digit ratios are lower among females and males with autism, however the correlation was not found as compelling in milder cases of autism, such as Aspergers.
There is also evidence that exposure to prenatal testosterone impacts brain development and language development.
Epigenetics allows the expression of genes from one generation to the next to differ greatly; even within the course of one lifetime depending on a myriad of environmental factors, many of which will likely never likely be fully understood, because of the effect of synergy.
To test your 2D/4D digit ratio, measure your ring finger from the bottom crease to the tip of the finger as well as your index finger on your right hand, and divide the second digit(2d)index finger measurement in millimeters by the fourth digit(4d)ringer finger measurement in millimeters and it will provide the ratio. The female range is normally close to 1.0 (even ratio). A lower ratio indicates the potential of greater exposure to prenatal testosterone.
Prenatal exposure to testosterone and digit ratio has been associated with many traits including athleticism and is even common among the last few presidents, particularly president Obama, estimated to have an extremely low digit ratio that appears to be close to .90.
This is only an association; low digit ratio is not an indicator by itself of autism spectrum disorders.
If you find that you have a very low ratio, you could ask your mother if she experienced a great deal of stress during pregnancy, and that could be a clue for an association.