ASD & Genetic Contributions

In the past, there was a long-standing belief that the genetic origins of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was likely linked more strongly to the mother’s genome. In 2022, researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) ,Long Island NY, reported the results of a study that analyzed over 6,000 volunteer families’ genomes. In families with multiple ASD children, the siblings with ASD were found to share more of their father’s genome. These observations run contrary to earlier models in which the mother carried a greater load than the father. If only one child had ASD, the long-standing belief of sharing more of their mother’s genome may still stand. Key findings included: 1) In families with multiple ASD children, the siblings shared more of their father’s genome. 2) This finding alters a long-standing belief that ASD siblings share more of their mother’s genome. 3) These findings could potentially alter treatment strategies and provide an improve understanding of ASD.