Science
Cornell Researchers Confirm Genetic Link to Autism
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 68 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Yet, despite extensive research, the reason for the disorder’s development remains unclear. But that could soon change, thanks to research conducted by Yiqin Wang grad and Prof. Zhenglong Gu, nutritional sciences. The duo studied the link between certain states of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and ASD. mtDNA, unlike nuclear DNA, is inherited from the mother and while there are over three billion base pairs of nuclear DNA, there are about 16,500 base pairs of mtDNA.