Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have made a significant breakthrough in a unique study on autism that brings doctors one step closer to understanding the genetic mechanism for the disorder, as well as being able to diagnose it long before a child is born.

Dr. Idan Menashe and his colleagues, Erez Tsur and Professor Michael Friger, studied over 650 genetic variations of the 1,000 genes linked to autism, and found that specific characteristics differentiate them from other genes in the human genome.

“If we find the remaining genes out of the thousand, we will not only be able to understand autism better, but also be able to conduct a genetic test even before pregnancy, and perhaps, in the future, also find a cure to help fix the genetic distortions to prevent autism,” said Menashe.

“We can certainly estimate that within five years it will be possible to conduct this type of genetic test,” he said.

The unique characteristics of genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are, among others, unusual genomic length and a genetic similarity to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.

Additionally, researchers found that ASD-related genes carry a signature typical of the genetic process known as negative evolutionary selection. This process is responsible for purging deleterious impacts on the genome, through a gradual process that spans generations.

“These findings expand our understanding in relation to the genetic mechanisms involved in autism, and provide new tools for the discovery of additional genes linked to the disorder,” Menashe said.