Genetic heterogeneity between the three components of the autism spectrum: a twin study.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the etiology of autistic-like traits in the general population and the etiological overlap between the three aspects of the triad of impairments (social impairments, communication impairments, restricted repetitive behaviors and interests) that together define autism spectrum disorders.


METHODS
Parents of 3,400 8-year-old twin pairs from the Twins Early Development Study completed the Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test, a screening instrument for autism spectrum symptoms in mainstream samples. Genetic model-fitting of categorical and continuous data is reported.


RESULTS
High heritability was found for extreme autistic-like traits (0.64-0.92 for various cutoffs) and autistic-like traits as measured on a continuum (0.78-0.81), with no significant shared environmental influences. All three subscales were highly heritable but showed low covariation. In the genetic modeling, distinct genetic influences were identified for the three components.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the triad of impairments that define autism spectrum disorders is heterogeneous genetically. Molecular genetic research examining the three components separately may identify different causal pathways for the three components. The analyses give no indication that different genetic processes affect extreme autistic impairments and autistic impairments as measured on a continuum, but this can only be directly tested once genes are identified.
Ronald
Angelica
A
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.ronald@iop.kcl.ac.uk.
Happé
Francesca
F
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Bolton
Patrick
P
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Butcher
Lee M
LM
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Price
Thomas S
TS
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Wheelwright
Sally
S
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Baron-Cohen
Simon
S
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Plomin
Robert
R
All of the authors are with the SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, except Dr. Price, who is affiliated with the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Ms. Wheelwright and Dr. Baron-Cohen, who are affiliated with the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*