---
title: "Psych News Alert: Several Gene Mutations Linked to Autism"
description: Three teams of scientists working independently have zeroed in on several gene mutations that they agree sharply increase a child's chan...
image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/autism_67145764-Jun-24-2025-07-23-02-3600-PM.jpg
---

 4/9/12 12:00 AM

# Several Gene Mutations Linked to Autism

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert)

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Three teams of scientists working independently have zeroed in on several gene mutations that they agree sharply increase a child's chances of developing autism, the* New York Times *reported on April 4.

Yet the gene mutations are rare and account for only a tiny fraction of autism cases. Also, a child's genetics account for only about half of autism's etiology, another study suggests. The rest of the disorder's etiology appears to have roots in environmental factors such as older paternal age, low birth weight, and viral infections during pregnancy. For more information about this study and the influences of genes and environment of development of autism, see *[Psychiatric News](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsArticle.aspx?articleid=115932) .*

(Image: Jaimie Duplass/Shutterstock.com)

[causes of autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/causes-of-autism)

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[obesity](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/obesity)

## [Children of Mothers Who Smoked During Pregnancy Face High Obesity Risk](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/09/children-of-mothers-who-smoked-during.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 9/11/12 12:00 AM

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[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/childabuse_47032378-Jun-24-2025-09-44-20-8547-PM.jpg?height=200&name=childabuse_47032378-Jun-24-2025-09-44-20-8547-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/10/serious-child-abuse-may-be-on-rise.html)

[child abuse](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/child-abuse), [abusive head trauma](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/abusive-head-trauma)

## [Serious Child Abuse May Be on Rise](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/10/serious-child-abuse-may-be-on-rise.html)

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