Sporadic autism exomes reveal a highly interconnected protein network of   de novo< /em> mutations< /strong> < /h2>

Original research article by B. O& #8217;Roake   et al. < /em> (2012) . < /p>

Read the article here< /a> . < /p>

The researchers performed whole exome sequencing on members of 209 families (677 people) who participated in the Simons Foundation< /span> â € ™s Simons Simplex Collection, which includes children with autism and intellectual disability. The study identified over 100 new genes, including CTNNB1, < /em> in which changes may be related to developmental delay, intellectual disability, or features of autism. The change in CTNNB1, < /em> noted in one person, was de novo (not inherited from either parent) . < /p>

The authors note that the   CTNNB1   < /em>gene is involved in a molecular process called chromatin remodeling. Understanding which genes are involved in the chromatin remodeling process is currently an active area of genetic and autism research. < /p>