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Autism
Scott suggested, on the podcast, that since autism is more common in males, we should look on the Y chromosome for genes that cause it. I just wanted to point on that if something occurs in both males & females, but is more prevalent in males, it is generally expressed on the X chromosome, but is a recessive gene...at least as far as I understand it. I work with some people who dabble in genetics, and could ask them for more info, but that's my understanding of it based on other genetic disorders, e.g. male pattern baldness and color-blindness.
Ah, just found an article supporting what I'm saying:
Ah, just found an article supporting what I'm saying:
Encyclopedia of Genetic DisordersRed/green and blue color blindness appear to be located on at least two different gene locations. The majority of affected individuals are males. Females are carriers but are not normally affected. This indicates that the X chromosome is one of the locations for color blindness. Male offspring of females who carry the altered gene have a fifty-fifty chance of being color-blind. The rare female that has red/green color blindness, or rarer still, blue color blindness, indicates there is an involvement of another gene. As of 2001, the location of this gene has not been identified.I'm not trying to show Scott up, or anything...I just find this sort of stuff interesting, and thought others might like to geek out about it a bit, too.
Comments
Mosaic means that in every cell of a woman's body one X chromosome is turned off. They shut off randomly at an early point in development and so each cell can display a different phenotype. This is why you can have female calico cats, etc.