Is Autistic Spectrum Disorder Genetic? Exploring the Arguments

Essay from the year 2014 in the subject Health - Miscellaneous, grade: B, Brunel University, language: English, abstract: Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders, characterised by varying degrees of social, imaginative and communicative deficits. ASD includes autism, pervasive developmental disorder, Rett's disorder and childhood disintegrative disorder. Some argue that ASD is genetic, with de novo mutations, copy number variations and chromosomal abnormalities, influencing an ASD individual's behaviour. Others argue it may be caused by the environment and specific experiences, such as maternal stress during postpartum and prenatal development, may be the underlying cause. This essay will explore these arguments, looking at twin studies, at broader phenotype and at prenatal/postpartum development, specifically in relational to maternal stress. It will conclude that ASD is not solely genetic, but can also be influenced by environmental factors.