Exciting News article. | Autism PDD
Celebrated scientist leading research on autism
- BY DELTHIA RICKS |
delthia.ricks@newsday.com
- August 14, 2007
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Michael
Wigler, the geneticist leading Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's search
for the genetic basis of autism, is a celebrated scientist who has made
significant contributions to the molecular understanding of cancer.
Observers say it is his rare ability to see mathematical patterns in
the complexities of genes that allow him to produce new ways of
understanding disorders that underlie human debilities.
It is
perhaps not surprising that his work is being done at Cold Spring
Harbor, a laboratory world famous for its research facilities and the
home of Nobel Prize winner James Watson, co-discover of the structure
of DNA.
Having conducted research at the lab for 30 years, Wigler was in the
forefront of scientists who developed the tools to probe cancer's DNA.
He's also co-discoverer of the first human oncogene, a molecule capable
of transforming normal cells into malignant ones. His work at the lab
also led to the development of ROMA - representational oligonucleotide
microarray analysis - a highly sensitive technique that allows
scientists to profile the genetic basis of cancer and other diseases.
"Michael grew up as a mathematician and began to indulge in genomics,"
which required a strong mathematical background, said Dr. Mary-Claire
King, the world-renowned medical geneticist at the University of
Washington. She led the research team that discovered the breast cancer
gene, BRCA1 and collaborated with Wigler on his initial work focusing
on spontaneous mutations in autism.
King said it was largely Watson who encouraged Wigler to use his mathematical insights to clarify cancer genetics.
"In the case of autism he asked: 'Isn't it possible that most autism
might be due to spontaneous mutations that occur at random in the
healthiest of families?'
"His is not the mainstream party line
on [the genetics of] autism," King said. "But there are labs in this
country and all over the world chasing Michael's hypothesis. And they
continue to find individually rare mutations that lead to this serious
condition."
Wigler said understanding the genetics of autism
could provide a stronger platform for understanding all cognitive
disorders, just as work involving cancer genetics added to the
knowledge of cell physiology.
WHAT THEY DID
The work done at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on the causes of autism has shown that:
Autism is a genetic disorder.
It is caused by "spontaneous mutations" to the genes.
It is passed on to offspring by older parents.
If you see the full article posted by tzoya, it is NOT SOLELY saying that the cause is from mutations that occur in mums who have their kids late. But it is using a bit of twisted logic.
Premise 1: Autistic kids have mutated genes
Premise 2: Increased age of conception increases mutation
Conclusion: Therefore parents with increased age of conception have mutated genes that "may" lead to autistic kids
Statistically I believe they found a higher number of mutations in older mums rather than younger mums. Whether it is statistically significant is another matter.
It is a spontaneous gene mutation that strikes at random.
Plus they SHOULD BE trying to explore other factors associated with such mutations. As Alison Singer of Autism Speaks puts it, "WHAT'S MISSING IN WIGLER'S WORK IS THE MECHANISM THAT CAUSES GENES TO MUTATE." There might be external stimulus like environmental toxins or even vaccines.
So the search continues ....
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