Oh man, it’s like a birthday present. I was bored just now and headed over to Science Daily, and what was awaiting me? This little gem¬†entitled “Autism Associated With Single-letter Change In Genetic Code”, that’s what.
And here I¬†was a few hours ago on my high horse about the new data that had come out around autism¬†rates not actually being on the rise. It’s not every day you get¬†to be smug twice on the same topic!
To quote the Science Daily excerpt from the article:
In one of the first studies of its kind, an international team of researchers has uncovered a single-letter change in the genetic code that is associated with autism. The finding, published in the journal Nature, implicates a neuronal gene not previously tied to the disorder and more broadly, underscores a role for common DNA variation. In addition, the new research highlights two other regions of the genome, which are likely to contain rare genetic differences that may also influence autism risk. 
That’s right, folks. Genetic variation might well be the cause of autism. So unless someone wants to show me some data that says that vaccines alter our DNA, I’m thinking that might just poke a few holes in the anti-vax position. Of course, that won’t happen. These are people who shift their standpoint every time their argument gets blown out of the water. It’s reminiscent of Wile E. Coyote sawing a hole through the bridge around where Road Runner is eating bird seed, only to have the entire bridge fall instead of the hole he cut. The real question is how they’re going to shift their position to incorporate the new¬† information.
Aside from gloating, I’d like to say this is fantastic news. The more we learn about this awful condition, the more we may be able to find a root cause that can be alleviated, or maybe find a means of treating. Autism rates are sitting around 1% of the population, and that would mean potentially improving the lives of so many people.
It’s funny, when you think of it. The anti-vax people are actually damaging many people by a combination of not seeking a legitimate understanding of autism, and also by using their pseudoscience to convince people to leave themselves open to unnecessary diseases. Evil scientists are the ones who are actually trying to understand and fix the problem.
Jim