title: An investigation of mitochondrial haplogroups in autism.
abstract: Family and twin studies provide strong evidence of a major genetic influence in autism, but the underlying gene defects have yet to be characterized. The mothers of boys with autism share autistic traits, raising the possibility of a maternally inherited factor. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is almost exclusively inherited down the maternal line. We therefore explored the possibility that a particular mtDNA lineage contributes to the risk of developing autism. The mtDNA haplogroup was determined in 162 autism probands, and compared to two sets of population controls. Results show no compelling evidence of an association of any mitochondrial haplogroup in autism.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. lsk8@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Hannah R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mowbray
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Chinnery
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial