New statistical method finds shared ancestral gene variants involved in autism's cause

(Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) A team led by geneticist Michal Wigler of CSHL has published what they believe 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 Wigler and colleagues 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 f...