New research that tells us synthetic chemicals may 'express' genes in a way that can cause autism also points to pioneering revelations ahead.
A 'vulnerability' gene has been isolated that can cause autism after a child has been exposed to unknown chemicals.
That conclusion comes from a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a team of researchers from Vanderbilt University.
This gene doesn't actually cause autism, it raises the risk of autism after being 'expressed' by contact with something in the environment. This could occur while the child is still in its mother's womb.
If the cause is a chemical or combination of chemicals, "it is a long list of everything from food additives to mercury to fertilizers," says Dr. Pat Levitt, a co-author of the study. "It may be more than one thing."
While Levitt and other scientists dismiss the idea that some childhood vaccines can trigger the gene, this latest study does seem to raise the prospect that methyl-mercury, used as a preservative in some vaccines, may still play a role, even if indirect. Maybe the methyl-mercury absorbed by mothers after taking vaccines themselves ends up in the fetus where it triggers the vulnerable gene to express itself once the child is born.
This is exciting research, folks! If feels like a doorway into answering a range of provocative questions about the interplay between dormant genes or genetic susceptibility and the chemical triggers that release an illness or disease.
Hello, I substitute teach special education here in a small town in S.W Washington. After being out of the special ed field for quite some time it is quite remarkable how many of my students have autism. I am even more disparaged about how many sibling groups have autism here. Twenty yrs ago there would have been only one or two autistic children in a class room now the classroom is overflowing with these children. Another thing I am noticing also is that for a town of 16,000 people and 1% asian I have one asian autistic child in almost every classroom I go to, and even a sibling group of two boys of asian decent. Now you tell me thats not unusual! Do the stats on that one, I am assuming that the asian communittee is being hit particulary hard.
My thoughts on what is causing autism is two-fold,1.) Mercury contains a half life, that means that even if the mothers did'nt give children shots with mercury in it it could be passed on from mother to child. 2.)Therimisal used in disinfectents is thought to be a cause. 3.) possible gene mutatation from chemicals or somewhere.
This is an epidemic of global proportions, every country in the world is reporting high numbers of autistic children. I compare this to the polio epidemic our grandparents spoke of.
Posted by: susan | June 24, 2007 12:44 PM