Link between chromosome deletion and autism and schizophrenia

Autism Schizophrenia and chromosome 17 deletion

According to the American Journal of Human Genetics a deletion in chromosome 17 raises the chance of having an autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. The chances of one having this deletion and actually having autism or schizophrenia is 14 times more likely then someone not having the deletion.

According to studies done by David H Ledbetter, a genetics professor at Emory University, the deletion is only found in people who have an autistic spectrum disorder or schizophrenia.However, not all people who have an autistic spectrum disorder or schizophrenia have this deletion. It is seen though that those who have the deltion will automatically have some form of the disorder.

The genetic research for this involved 3 genetic databases. The first genetic database involved 15,749 people who had a an autistic spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and developmental delay. They discovered the deletion of chromosome 17 in 18 of these people.The deletion was not found in any of the healthy people.Researchers found 9 of these 18 people with the deletion. Everyone of the them had a cognitive impairment, 6 of them being autism.

In order to verify these results, two more databases were observed that contained 7,522 people that had autism or schizophrenia. They discovered 6 people with the deletion. Four of these 6 suffered from schizophrenia, while 2 suffered from an autism spectrum disorder.

Research is beginning to show that schizophrenia and autism have genetic similarities.Research has shown that deletion in chromosome 17 results in some form of an autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. New research can be used to help in genetic testing and aid in determining autism or schizophrenia.