---
title: "Psych News Alert: More Being Learned About Genes and Autism"
description: Many different genes influence development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Now, researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem report th...
image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GeneGel_75924292-Jun-24-2025-09-42-10-3989-PM.jpg
---

 5/2/12 12:00 AM

# More Being Learned About Genes and 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)

Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/05/more-being-learned-about-genes-and.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/05/more-being-learned-about-genes-and.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/05/more-being-learned-about-genes-and.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/05/more-being-learned-about-genes-and.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/05/more-being-learned-about-genes-and.html)

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GeneGel_75924292-Jun-24-2025-09-42-09-6366-PM.jpg?width=161&height=200&name=GeneGel_75924292-Jun-24-2025-09-42-09-6366-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GeneGel_75924292-Jun-24-2025-09-42-11-3565-PM.jpg) 

Many different genes influence development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  Now, researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem report that a network based on the expression pattern of genes across different brain areas indicates that certain groups of genes are expressed in a similar pattern across the brain. That suggests that they are involved in the same processes or types of cells, said Sagiv Shifman, Ph.D., and graduate student Eyal Ben-David, in a report in the March *PLoS Genetics*.

" [T]the strongest enrichment [of genetic risk factors] was discovered in a group of neuronal genes that are involved in processes of learning and memory and are highly expressed during infancy,” said the researchers. “Further study of this group of genes has the potential to reveal a more detailed picture of the neuronal mechanisms leading to ASD and to provide knowledge required for developing diagnostic tools and effective therapies.”

For more in *Psychiatric News* about advancing knowledge regarding genetics and autism, click [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=115932).

(Image: Alila Sao Mai/Shutterstock.com)

[psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry), [genetics](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/genetics), [autism risk factors](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism-risk-factors)

## Related posts

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/BrainDNA_100352183-2.jpg?height=200&name=BrainDNA_100352183-2.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/08/common-genetic-variation-may-underlie.html)

[schizophrenia](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/schizophrenia), [psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry), [depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [bipolar disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/bipolar-disorder), [autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism), [risk factors](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/risk-factors), [NIMH](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/nimh), [psychiatric genetics](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatric-genetics)

## [Common Genetic Variation May Underlie Different Mental Illnesses](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/08/common-genetic-variation-may-underlie.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) 

 8/14/13 12:00 AM

An international group of psychiatric researchers has identified a 15% overlap between...

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2013/08/common-genetic-variation-may-underlie.html)

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AutChildGlass_11429527-Jun-24-2025-06-34-28-1318-PM.jpg?height=200&name=AutChildGlass_11429527-Jun-24-2025-06-34-28-1318-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/schizophrenia-in-families-may-be-risk.html)

[schizophrenia](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/schizophrenia), [autism spectrum disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism-spectrum-disorder), [psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry), [bipolar disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/bipolar-disorder), [autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism), [epidemiology](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/epidemiology), [psychiatric genetics](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatric-genetics)

## [Schizophrenia in Families May Be Risk Factor for Autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/schizophrenia-in-families-may-be-risk.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) 

 11/7/12 12:00 AM

There is some evidence of overlap between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia, but...

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/11/schizophrenia-in-families-may-be-risk.html)

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/babies-Jun-24-2025-04-39-20-7285-PM.gif?height=200&name=babies-Jun-24-2025-04-39-20-7285-PM.gif) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/environment-may-play-bigger-role-in.html)

[autism spectrum disorder](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism-spectrum-disorder), [autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/autism), [genetics](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/genetics), [risk factor](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/risk-factor), [twins](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/twins), [environment](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/environment)

## [Environment May Play Bigger Role in Origins of Autism](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/environment-may-play-bigger-role-in.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) 

 7/6/11 12:00 AM

Phase4Photography/Shutterstock  For decades, researchers have assumed that autism spectrum...

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/environment-may-play-bigger-role-in.html)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert",
    "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T21:43:48.881Z",
  "datePublished" : "2012-05-02T04:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Psych News Alert: More Being Learned About Genes and Autism",
  "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GeneGel_75924292-Jun-24-2025-09-42-10-3989-PM.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/05/more-being-learned-about-genes-and.html",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg"
    }
  }
}
```