Genetic analysis supports prediction that spontaneous rare mutations cause half of autism

A new analysis of data on the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been released by experts. One commonly held theory is that autism results from chance combinations of commonly occurring gene mutations. But the study provides support for a different theory: that devastating 'ultra-rare' mutations of genes that they classify as "vulnerable" play a causal role in roughly half of all ASD cases. The vulnerable genes to which they refer harbor what they call an LGD, or likely gene disrupti...