I was asked recently about the probability of twins both having autism, especially if they are fraternal. It just happens that this is being studied by the California Autism Twin Study. The study continues to show that there are environmental influences (including prenatal) that add to genetic vulnerability.
Posted by Clara Lajonchere, PhD, vice president of clinical programs, Autism Speaks
As head of clinical programs at Autism Speaks, I oversee a number of vital resources for researchers studying the causes and treatment of autism. Today brought the publication of a new and revealing study made possible by Autism Speaks’ Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE).
Autism researchers have been studying twins for years for insights into the genetic and nongenetic factors that influence the development of autism. One of the most powerful ways to do so is to study twins (both identical and non-identical) where at least one of the pair has autism. This approach allows us to look at how often both twins receive a diagnosis of autism. Study of identical twins, who share 100 percent of their genes, then helps us determine the degree to which autism is inherited, or genetic; and comparison to fraternal twins, who share around…
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