Tuesday, November 29, 2011

williams syndrome may hold clues to autism, other disorders

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MSNBC | Researchers have puzzled over that extreme friendliness for decades, pondering the causes and complicated traits that go with the syndrome that affects 1 in every 10,000 people, says Ursula Bellugi, a researcher at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif., who has studied the disorder for a quarter-century.

They've come to believe that Williams syndrome, which is characterized by unique genetic markers and distinct behaviors, may actually hold the secrets to understanding other better-known disorders — including autism.

'Brink of a whole new world'
“We’re on the brink of a whole new world,” says Bellugi, 80, a professor and director of Salk’s Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience.

Now, thanks to a $5.5 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bellugi and team of prominent scientists are poised to use Williams syndrome to decode the ties between human genes and the way people act.

"We want to know: Are there links across the levels from the genes to behavior?" said Bellugi, who is leading a five-project program.

1 comments:

Uglyblackjohn said...

I must have this, it explains my low IQ.

I could NEVER be famous - I have problems being popular.
I have little interest in others beyond a level of them being alright (fed, clothed, warm or cool, safe, etc.).
Tell me a personal story and I tend to lose interest.
But the reason I do well at running/owning nightclubs is because people say that I never meet a stranger.

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