DNA methylation sites in sperm could act as biomarkers for autism

Written by Alice Bough (Future Science Group)

Researchers from Valencia Clinical Research Center (Spain) and Washington State University (WA, USA) have collaborated to identify a set of DNA methylation regions in sperm that could act as biomarkers for autism susceptibility in children. While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered to be predominantly associated with paternal transmission, the mechanisms behind this are not yet understood. The findings of this proof-of-concept study, published in Clinical Epigenetics, could be a step towards explaining these mechanisms. The study recruited 26 men, of which 13 had fathered sons diagnosed with ASD, and the other 13 who had fathered sons without. The researchers...

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