Dr Raynard Kington, of the US National Institutes of Health, which funded the research, said: "These findings establish that genetic factors play a strong role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). "Detailed analysis of the genes and how they affect brain development is likely to yield better strategies for diagnosing and treating children with autism." People with ASD, which include autism and Asperger's syndrome, have problems with social interaction, poor communication skills and tend to engage in repetitive behaviours.
The ASD includes diseases such as autism and Asperger's syndrome.