Category Archives: Autism

Twin studies, Autism Risk, Epigenetic Molecular Trails in Utero

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Researchers are keen to identify environmental causes of autism, using epigenetics. Twin studies in particular offer unique opportunities for clever researchers. The eye opening results of the California Autism Twins Study (CATS) study, were that autism had a ~60% genetics basis and a ~40% environmental basis. This news has facilitated the idea that there is an epigenetic molecular trail to follow, to identify environmental causes of autism. One of those environmental factors correlating to autism risk is low birth weight. Yes, yes, well that seems to makes sense when you think of it in the context of premature births. But here again, twin studies show us further complexity. (As a side bar check out this blog post from Genomes Unzipped,  … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, DNA Extraction / Purification, DNA Methylation, Developmental Biology, Immunohistochemistry, In Utero, Neuroscience, Twin studies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Identical Twins are Not Identically Imprinted : Epigenome in Context of the Genome

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

As is the case with their fingerprints, imprinted genes are NOT identical in identical twins. In fact, methylation levels vary notably, yet randomly, in localized imprinted regulatory regions, between MZ twins. Even cooler, a new epigenetics clue came out of demonstrating this imprinting variability. This month in PloS one, the collaborators from the Garvin Institute, the University of Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and St. Vincent’s Clinical School, University of NSW, produced the paper Impact of the Genome on the Epigenome Is Manifested in DNA Methylation Patterns of Imprinted Regions in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins. by Marcel W. Coolen et al. Blood samples from 128 pairs of identical, and 128 pairs of fraternal teen aged twins, … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Bioinformatics, DNA Methylation, Developmental Biology, Divergent Transcription, Gene Regulation, Gene Silencing, Genomewide Methylation Profiling, In Utero, Mass Spec, Methylation Specific PCR, Next Gen Sequencing, Sodium Bisulfite Sequencing, Transcriptome microarray | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Video by Epigenie: Epigenetics in Autism-Spectrum Disorders with Dr Janine LaSalle

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Posted in Autism, Neuroscience | Leave a comment

Is Epigenetics the Basis of the ‘Autism Epidemic’?

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

There is a proverb, said by the famous British historical literary critic, who published the first English Dictionary. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” – Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) Today is the last day of April, which has been autism awareness month. I think it’s fitting to point out a provocative hypothesis of autism causation. Studies of folic acid metabolism and autism have been published over the past several years, by various authors. This recent paper King CR. A novel embryological theory of autism causation involving endogenous biochemicals capable of initiating cellular gene transcription. A possible link between twelve autism risk factors and the autism ‘epidemic’ Med hypotheses (2011) is interesting, since it presents a hypotheses that autism … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Models, Autism, DNA Methylation, Developmental Biology, In Utero, Neuroscience | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Targeting an Epigenetic Biomarker for Fragile X

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Epigenetics is bringing a needed perspective to a important public health issue. Many people with Fragile X have autism, or symptoms of autism. The condition is associated with learning, physical, social and emotional, speech and language, and sensory problems. Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment (ABA) is a set of methods which can be used to target and modify problematic symptoms and behaviors. It is effective – but also an arduous task in treating the symptoms of autism. Wouldn’t it be great if there was an epigenetic drug treatment which could be used with ABA producing an enhanced, synergistic effect? Neuroscience experts call Fragile X syndrome a disease of synaptic plasticity. Neuropychologists have already determined that early intervention produces the most effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Clinical Studies, Neuroscience, Translational Research, X-linked | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment