{"id":5674,"date":"2020-01-12T01:00:26","date_gmt":"2020-01-12T06:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/last-drum.flywheelsites.com\/?p=5674"},"modified":"2024-08-19T16:16:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T21:16:45","slug":"webinar-autism-gene-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinar-autism-gene-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Gene-Environment Interactions in Autism: Research Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-one-sixth fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:16.666666666667%;width:calc(16.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.16666666666667 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:40px;--awb-bg-size:cover;width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#jump\">Valerie W. Hu, Ph.D.<\/a>, discusses gene-environmental interactions pertaining to autism. She describes how integrative genomics studies on autism led to investigating endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) as environmental risk factors for autism and presents findings on the impact of specific EDCs on gene expression in autism subgroups. The speaker describes studies on DNA methylation in human sperm associated with long-term exposure to EDCs and posits how EDC-dependent epigenomic alterations may contribute to increased risk for autism. Hu repeatedly underscores that these studies aim to create targeted therapy and personalized medical care for autistic individuals. She summarizes the presented studies and findings before the question-and-answer session.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Take the knowledge quiz for this presentation <a href=\"#jump\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-video fusion-youtube fusion-aligncenter\" style=\"--awb-max-width:1500px;--awb-max-height:844px;--awb-width:100%;\"><div class=\"video-shortcode\"><div class=\"fluid-width-video-wrapper\" style=\"padding-top:56.27%;\" ><iframe title=\"YouTube video player 1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xOLJUgR0fkg?wmode=transparent&autoplay=0\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><h2><strong>In this webinar:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b>0:34 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Presenter introduction<br \/>\n<\/span><b>1:35 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Presentation objectives<br \/>\n<\/span><b>2:45 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is autism?<br \/>\n<\/span><b>3:48 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autism prevalence<br \/>\n<\/span><b>4:23 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Autism Pyramid &#8211; Intro to gene-environment interactions<br \/>\n<\/span><b>6:43 &#8211; <\/b>Research lab goals<br \/>\n<b>7:40 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underlying hypothesis and experimental strategy<br \/>\n<\/span><b>9:40 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Study: Clinical phenotypes<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>13:02 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research questions and subgroup approach<br \/>\n<\/span><b>14:07 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results: Differentially expressed genes in autism subgroups<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>15:38 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results:\u00a0 Autism subgroups via gene expression profiles<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>16:03 &#8211; <\/b><i>Results:\u00a0 Gene expression and biology of autism subgroups<br \/>\n<\/i><b>18:36 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Circadian rhythm<br \/>\n<\/span><b>20:30 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific treatments for identified genetic deficiencies<br \/>\n<\/span><b>22:42 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Study: Epigenetics and methylation<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>24:44 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results: Differentially expressed genes<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>25:43 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RORA and autism<br \/>\n<\/span><b>27:36 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is RORA regulated?<br \/>\n<\/span><b>32:08 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RORA, the master regulator<br \/>\n<\/span><b>33:58 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RORA deficiencies and endocrine-disrupting chemicals<br \/>\n<\/span><b>34:49 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EDCs<br \/>\n<\/span><b>36:21 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Study: Short-term Atrazine exposure<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>40:30 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EDC-dysregulated RORA expression<br \/>\n<\/span><b>41:17 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Study: Cross-generational Atrazine exposure effects<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>44:43 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results: Differentially methylated region patterns<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>46:47 &#8211; <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results: SNORD115 methylation across generations<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><b>48:22 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Presentation summary<br \/>\n<\/span><b>51:03 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acknowledgements and references<br \/>\n<\/span><b>51:20 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q &amp; A<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>A brief intro to gene-environmental interactions\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hu outlines presentation objectives <\/span><b>(1:35) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and briefs the history of autism descriptions, the current definition as reflected in the DSM-5 <\/span><b>(2:45)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and autism prevalence <\/span><b>(3:48)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She uses the Autism Pyramid to describe what causes autism where each titled layer controls those below <\/span><b>(4:23)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environmental triggers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genetics &amp; epigenetics (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equally important<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gene expression profile (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">level of gene activity<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autism phenotypes (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">observed behaviors and brain circuitry<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gene expression, she continues, determines the function of cells and tissues that give rise to certain behaviors and symptoms (phenotypes). The presenter describes genetics as encoded in our DNA (hardware) and epigenetics as the regulatory mechanisms (software) that determine gene expression and that are affected by surrounding environments <\/span><b>(5:45)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Environmental triggers can be intrinsic (e.g., hormones) and extrinsic (e.g., pesticides). However, we don\u2019t understand much about how they work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Studies on gene expression profiles of autistic individuals<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on this understanding of gene-environment interactions <\/span><b>(7:40)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Hu and her lab set out to identify genes and pathways for targeted therapies, discover diagnostic biomarkers, and develop a systems-level understanding of autism pathobiology <\/span><b>(6:43)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. To account for the phenotypic heterogeneity (diversity) within autism <\/span><b>(8:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, researchers ran cluster analyses of raw ADI-R scores <\/span><b>(9:48)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and found four distinct clinical subgroups: severe language impaired (SLI), savant skills (SK), intermediate severity (IS), and mild severity (MS) <\/span><b>(11:15)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Researchers compared the underlying biology of these autistic subgroups to the non-autistic population <\/span><b>(13:02)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and found different patterns of gene activity across groups with the most significant difference between SLI and controls. Beyond this, they observed that MS had gene expression patterns that resembled the controls <\/span><b>(14:07)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Principal components analysis also revealed that gene expression profiles could separate the apparent autism subtypes into distinct subgroups <\/span><b>(15:38)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The speaker and her colleagues also found overlapping and unique genes associated with each autism subgroup compared to controls <\/span><b>(16:03)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. While associated genes related to what we already know of autism <\/span><b>(17:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, unique genes in the SLI group were not present in MS or SK groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that involves placing a chemical mark that alters gene function (when marked on or off) on a particular base in a DNA sequence. To discover if DNA methylation contributes to gene dysregulation, researchers conducted large-scale microarray analyses of cells from discordant twins and siblings <\/span><b>(23:27)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Results revealed 25 genes whose expression level might be related to specific methylation. The speaker notes a pathway analysis that identified methylation-regulated genes involved in steroid biosynthesis, digestion, fetal development, and more <\/span><b>(24:44)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Hu details the results of a RORA-deficient mouse model <\/span><b>(25:43)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and outlines its implications for autism <\/span><b>(26:48)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including circadian rhythm genes, neuroinflammation, and cell deficiencies <\/span><b>(26:48)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Circadian rhythm and the RORA gene<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The speaker describes circadian rhythm genes (clock genes) <\/span><b>(18:36) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as they apply to functions and disorders associated with autism such as memory, sleep-wake cycle, learning, cell proliferation, and more <\/span><b>(19:50)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Regulation of the RORA gene, she explains, directly affects circadian outcomes and so has specifically linked autism to environmental triggers <\/span><b>(19:35)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hu discusses sex hormones as possible regulators of the RORA gene and posits that the extreme male brain theory may explain hormonal regulation differences in sex cells <\/span><b>(29:08)<a href=\"#jump2\">*<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">RORA is a \u201cmaster regulator of [over 400] autism-relevant genes. Therefore, any mechanisms that disrupt RORA expression could be implicated in increased risk for autism\u201d (32:08).<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">RORA deficiency and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)<\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can also dysregulate RORA expression (33:58). EDCs mimic or antagonize endogenous hormones (produced inside the cell), therefore disrupting homeostasis. Examples of EDCs include herbicides like Atrazine, pesticides like DDT, plastics like Bisphenol A (BPA), and Phthalates like air fresheners and soft toys (34:49). Hu outlines studies on the effects of Atrazine (a common herbicide) on sexual differentiation in wildlife (36:21), noting how \u2018\u201clow-dose\u201d amounts have a bidirectional impact on RORA expression in neuronal cell cultures (38:00). Another gene expression profiling study showed an overlap of differentially expressed genes and transcriptional targets for RORA (39:00). Hu asserts that these studies reveal how EDC-dysregulated RORA expression is a potential mechanism for gene-environment interactions that may increase the risk for autism (40:30).<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">How is the impact of environmental agents transferred across generations?<\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Hu outlines a study that revealed increasingly altered DNA methylation in each generation of offspring from a mouse who experienced long-term exposure to Atrazine. She highlights the significant increase in the number of autism genes present in the F2 and F3 generations (41:17). Similarly, she continues, a discovery study on the impact of endocrine disruptors on human sperm methylome (43:05) found that differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of expression clearly separated groups by exposure amount (low and high). Further, fourteen overlapping genes across three study sets were implicated in central nervous system development, synaptic transmissions, social behaviors, hormones, and more (44:46).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Hu details a final study that revealed the methylation of SNORD115, a paternally imprinted chromosome, was significantly differentially methylated across all study groups (46:47). Specifically, SNORD115 was significantly differentially methylated in the sperm of fathers of autistic children compared to the fathers of non-autistic children (47:30). These findings, Hu asserts, suggest the existence of environmentally induced autism-associated epigenetic alterations that may be transmitted transgenerationally through germline cells (48:00).<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">Summary and conclusions<\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The speaker summarizes the findings discussed in the presentation and underscores the need for integrative genomic discovery paths to environmental contributors of autism (48:22). The presented studies evidence environment-dependent life-long genetic and epigenetic effects specific to autism that may be transmitted transgenerationally. Therefore, creating targeted treatments and accommodations via continued research and awareness is paramount. Hu provides acknowledgments and references before beginning the question and answer session (51:20).<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">*According to 2022 studies on gender and diagnosis in autism, extreme male brain theory may no longer explain these or other gender-based differences observed in autism. You can learn about these studies <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-differences-in-diagnoses\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h3><br style=\"font-weight: 400;\" \/><br style=\"font-weight: 400;\" \/><\/h3>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-one-sixth fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:16.666666666667%;width:calc(16.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.16666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"jump\" class=\"fusion-container-anchor\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><h3>About the speaker:<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_5564\" style=\"width: 110px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5564\" class=\"lazyload size-full wp-image-5564\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27100%27%20height%3D%2795%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20100%2095%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27100%27%20height%3D%2795%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/hu.png\" alt=\"Dr. Hu\" width=\"100\" height=\"95\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5564\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Hu<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Valerie W. Hu, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC as well as the mother of a son with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dr. Hu was trained as a chemist, with a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Hawaii. She has a long research history in cross-disciplinary studies focused on protein structure-function relationships and membrane-protein interactions. In late 2004, because of her personal interest in ASD, she redirected her research focus towards autism. Dr. Hu has since become a leader in the application of multi-disciplinary, integrative genomics approaches to ASD which involve the integration of large-scale data from gene expression, behavioral, genetic, and epigenetic analyses. Currently, she has turned her attention to environmental contributors that may increase risk for autism through alterations of the epigenome that may be responsible at least in part for the heritability of autistic traits.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><h4>Take the knowledge quiz<\/h4>\n<p>Can&#8217;t see the quiz below? Take it online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classmarker.com\/online-test\/start\/?quiz=gkb5e1cc4d5f2303\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><p><iframe style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 700px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classmarker.com\/online-test\/start\/?quiz=gkb5e1cc4d5f2303&amp;iframe=1\" height=\"800\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:20px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:20px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-4 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:30px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-recent-posts fusion-recent-posts-1 avada-container layout-default layout-columns-3\"><section class=\"fusion-columns columns fusion-columns-3 columns-3\"><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gene-therapy-for-mutations-in-the-iqsec2-gene\/\" aria-label=\"Gene Therapy for Mutations in the IQSEC2 Gene\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Two puzzle pieces with the words &quot;Autism&quot; and &quot;Genetics&quot; on them\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271192%27%20height%3D%27924%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201192%20924%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271192%27%20height%3D%27924%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-03-18T18:21:41-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gene-therapy-for-mutations-in-the-iqsec2-gene\/\">Gene Therapy for Mutations in the IQSEC2 Gene<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-03-18T18:21:41-05:00<\/span><span>March 17th, 2026<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/immune-issues\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Immune Issues<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/medical-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Medical Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/parenting\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Parenting<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/prenatal-health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Pregnancy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/wao\/\" rel=\"category tag\">WAO<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>     The IQSEC2 protein is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Arf6.\u00a0 Pathogenic variants in the X-linked IQSEC2 gene are associated with drug-resistant epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, and autism.\u00a0 The vast<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/using-machine-learning-for-biomarker-discovery\/\" aria-label=\"Towards the Development of a Diagnostic Test for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Data Science Meets Metabolomics\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_209628810-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Biomarkers DNA image\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271706%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201706%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271706%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_209628810-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_209628810-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AdobeStock_209628810-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-02-23T14:18:06-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/using-machine-learning-for-biomarker-discovery\/\">Towards the Development of a Diagnostic Test for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Data Science Meets Metabolomics<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-02-23T14:18:06-05:00<\/span><span>February 10th, 2026<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/biomarkers\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Biomarkers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/immune-issues\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Immune Issues<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/medical-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Medical Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>      Hear Juergen Hahn, Ph.D., ARI Scientific Advisory Board member, discuss how using machine learning can lead to biomarker discoveries in autism research. Handouts are online HERE   <\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/how-genetics-is-shaping-the-field-of-autism-research\/\" aria-label=\"How Genetics is Shaping the Field of Autism Research\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/genes-4-700x441.jpg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Medical professional conducting a test or analysis\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27667%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20667%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27667%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/genes-4-700x441.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/genes-4-320x202.jpg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/genes-4-700x441.jpg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-02-23T14:19:25-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/how-genetics-is-shaping-the-field-of-autism-research\/\">How Genetics is Shaping the Field of Autism Research<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-02-23T14:19:25-05:00<\/span><span>January 27th, 2026<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/environmental-factors\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Environmental Factors<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/medical-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Medical Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>      Learn about how research on genetic influences is shaping our understanding of autism.      About the speaker: M. Pilar Trelles, MD, is a licensed and<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/breakthroughs-in-understanding-roles-of-genes-and-environment-in-autism\/\" aria-label=\"Breakthroughs in Understanding roles of Genes and Environment in Autism\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/paid_-dna-700x441.jpg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"autism genetic research, beyond genetics autism\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271600%27%20height%3D%271067%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201600%201067%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271600%27%20height%3D%271067%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/paid_-dna-700x441.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/paid_-dna-320x202.jpg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/paid_-dna-700x441.jpg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-01-05T18:58:39-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/breakthroughs-in-understanding-roles-of-genes-and-environment-in-autism\/\">Breakthroughs in Understanding roles of Genes and Environment in Autism<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2026-01-05T18:58:39-05:00<\/span><span>December 2nd, 2025<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/environmental-factors\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Environmental Factors<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/medical-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Medical Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>          About the speaker: Dr. Jonathan Sebat, Director, Beyster Center for Psychiatric Genomics Dr. Sebat leads an interdisciplinary team in the clinical and genomic analysis of<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/editorial-invisible-threats-the-role-of-environmental-toxins-in-autism\/\" aria-label=\"Editorial: Invisible threats &#8211; the role of environmental toxins in autism\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Untitled-design-48-700x441.jpg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"different toxins\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271280%27%20height%3D%27720%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201280%20720%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271280%27%20height%3D%27720%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Untitled-design-48-700x441.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Untitled-design-48-320x202.jpg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Untitled-design-48-700x441.jpg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-11-24T14:39:51-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/editorial-invisible-threats-the-role-of-environmental-toxins-in-autism\/\">Editorial: Invisible threats &#8211; the role of environmental toxins in autism<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-11-24T14:39:51-05:00<\/span><span>November 21st, 2025<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/health\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Health<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/uncategorized\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Uncategorized<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>   As our knowledge about autism continues to evolve, so does our understanding of its root causes. For many years, professionals blamed \u201crefrigerator parents\u201d and prescribed psychoanalytic therapy. Once the psychogenic theory was<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/molecular-and-celluar-mechanisms\/\" aria-label=\"The Low-Hanging Fruit: Exploring Monogenic Syndromes with Elevated Rates of Autism\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Two puzzle pieces with the words &quot;Autism&quot; and &quot;Genetics&quot; on them\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271192%27%20height%3D%27924%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201192%20924%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271192%27%20height%3D%27924%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_845339561-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-08-07T10:37:37-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/molecular-and-celluar-mechanisms\/\">The Low-Hanging Fruit: Exploring Monogenic Syndromes with Elevated Rates of Autism<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-08-07T10:37:37-05:00<\/span><span>July 15th, 2024<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/autism-spectrum-disorders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Autism Spectrum Disorders<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/biomarkers\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Biomarkers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/autism-spectrum-disorders\/ways-to-help\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Ways to Help<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>   Dr. Daniel Vogt, Ph.D., explores monogenic syndromes and what they can tell us about the underlying causes of autism. He describes signaling pathways critical in early development, highlighting the electrical nature of<\/p><\/div><\/article><\/section><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-5 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-background-color:#31478e;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1315.6px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-7 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" 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