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A twin study of heritable and shared environmental contributions to autism.


ABSTRACT: The present study examined genetic and shared environment contributions to quantitatively-measured autism symptoms and categorically-defined autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Participants included 568 twins from the Interactive Autism Network. Autism symptoms were obtained using the Social Communication Questionnaire and Social Responsiveness Scale. Categorically-defined ASD was based on clinical diagnoses. DeFries-Fulker and liability threshold models examined etiologic influences. Very high heritability was observed for extreme autism symptom levels ([Formula: see text]). Extreme levels of social and repetitive behavior symptoms were strongly influenced by common genetic factors. Heritability of categorically-defined ASD diagnosis was comparatively low (.21, 95 % CI 0.15-0.28). High heritability of extreme autism symptom levels confirms previous observations of strong genetic influences on autism. Future studies will require large, carefully ascertained family pedigrees and quantitative symptom measurements.

SUBMITTER: Frazier TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4104233 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A twin study of heritable and shared environmental contributions to autism.

Frazier Thomas W TW   Thompson Lee L   Youngstrom Eric A EA   Law Paul P   Hardan Antonio Y AY   Eng Charis C   Morris Nathan N  

Journal of autism and developmental disorders 20140801 8


The present study examined genetic and shared environment contributions to quantitatively-measured autism symptoms and categorically-defined autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Participants included 568 twins from the Interactive Autism Network. Autism symptoms were obtained using the Social Communication Questionnaire and Social Responsiveness Scale. Categorically-defined ASD was based on clinical diagnoses. DeFries-Fulker and liability threshold models examined etiologic influences. Very high her  ...[more]

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