title: Connecting signaling pathways underlying communication to ASD vulnerability.
abstract: Language is a human-specific trait that likely facilitated the rapid increase in higher cognitive function in our species. A consequence of the selective pressures that have permitted language and cognition to flourish in humans is the unique vulnerability of humans to developing cognitive disorders such as autism. Therefore, progress in understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms of language evolution should provide insight into such disorders. Here, we discuss the few genes that have been identified in both autism-related pathways and language. We also detail the use of animal models to uncover the function of these genes at a mechanistic and circuit level. Finally, we present the use of comparative genomics to identify novel genes and gene networks involved in autism. Together, all of these approaches will allow for a broader and deeper view of the molecular brain mechanisms involved in the evolution of language and the gene disruptions associated with autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepp
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Konopka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
keywords: Animal models; Communication; Evolution; Genomics; Language; Vocalizations