New statistical method finds shared ancestral gene variants involved in autism's cause
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 14:52
in Biology & Nature
Researchers believe that theirs is the first rigorous statistical evidence that ancient variations in the human genome contribute to autism -- each, most likely, having a very small effect. The method investigatorss used in the new study was family-based and compared 'discordant sibilings,' one with and one without autism to a separate collection of affected individuals. The sample included over 16,000 people from nearly 4000 families.