The acceptance of the majority of autism researchers that autism is a
strongly genetic condition is puzzling. Most rely on Twin studies and
prevelance rates. No doubt genetic susceptability applies to autism
related conditions as they do to many conditions that aren't thought to be
genetic conditions.
The International Registry of HIV infected twins reported a
significantly higher concordance in MZ twin pairs compared to DZ twin
pairs (1).
The risk of mother to fetus transmission of the HIV-1 virus has been
reported to be approximetly 25% before treatment regimes were available to
pregnant women (2).
Maternal HIV research could easily persuade rational investigators
that HIV infection is a strongly genetic condition as evidenced by the
higher rate of concordance in MZ twins compared to DZ twins and the
approximate 25% risk of mother to fetus infection suggests an autosomal
recessive method of transmission.
Some investigators, including the present author, believe that
research into non genetic contributing factors of autism causation (3) is
under researched despite such research having the potential to be of more
immediate fruition (prevention) than current vast overfunding of genetic
research into autism.
1: Goedert JJ, Duliege AM, Amos CI, Felton S, Biggar RJ.
High risk of HIV-1 infection for first-born twins. The
International Registry of HIV-exposed Twins.
Lancet 1991 Dec 14;338(8781):14711.
2.Fowler MG, Mofenson L.
Progress in prevention of perinatal HIV-1.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda,
MD, USA.
Acta Paediatr Suppl 1997 Jun;421:97-103
3. Jensen RA Autism and the chemical connection.
J Autism Dev Disord. 1994 Dec;24(6):785-7.
Rapid Response:
Autism as a 'genetic' condition
The acceptance of the majority of autism researchers that autism is a
strongly genetic condition is puzzling. Most rely on Twin studies and
prevelance rates. No doubt genetic susceptability applies to autism
related conditions as they do to many conditions that aren't thought to be
genetic conditions.
The International Registry of HIV infected twins reported a
significantly higher concordance in MZ twin pairs compared to DZ twin
pairs (1).
The risk of mother to fetus transmission of the HIV-1 virus has been
reported to be approximetly 25% before treatment regimes were available to
pregnant women (2).
Maternal HIV research could easily persuade rational investigators
that HIV infection is a strongly genetic condition as evidenced by the
higher rate of concordance in MZ twins compared to DZ twins and the
approximate 25% risk of mother to fetus infection suggests an autosomal
recessive method of transmission.
Some investigators, including the present author, believe that
research into non genetic contributing factors of autism causation (3) is
under researched despite such research having the potential to be of more
immediate fruition (prevention) than current vast overfunding of genetic
research into autism.
1: Goedert JJ, Duliege AM, Amos CI, Felton S, Biggar RJ.
High risk of HIV-1 infection for first-born twins. The
International Registry of HIV-exposed Twins.
Lancet 1991 Dec 14;338(8781):14711.
2.Fowler MG, Mofenson L.
Progress in prevention of perinatal HIV-1.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda,
MD, USA.
Acta Paediatr Suppl 1997 Jun;421:97-103
3. Jensen RA Autism and the chemical connection.
J Autism Dev Disord. 1994 Dec;24(6):785-7.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests