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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Scientists out to find the specific genes responsible for the behavior disorder known as autism have made some revealing discoveries.
Not only does it appear different genes are responsible for the condition in boys than the genes responsible for it in girls, but genes may also differ depending on when the condition develops, with one set likely to cause early onset autism and another a form of autism that develops a little later in life.
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"It is highly unlikely that there is only one gene responsible for autism," reports study author Gerard Schellenberg, Ph.D., from the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle and the University of Washington in Seattle. "There may be four to six major genes and 20 to 30 others that might contribute to autism to a lesser degree."
How will knowing which genes are involved make a difference? If the genes are known and tests can be developed to find them, researchers report infants can be screened at birth. Those found to have the condition can then receive immediate interventions aimed at minimizing the effects. Long term, doctors might also be able to find an effective treatment -- or even a cure.
"We have been working almost 10 years to get to this point," reports Dr. Schellenberg. "If we can find and confirm that a particular gene is involved in autism the field will explode. We have to find a gene so that molecular biology can be defined and we can understand what's inside autism. Until that happens, we are dancing on the outside."
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Molecular Psychiatry, published online Aug. 1, 2006
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