Imbalanced genomic imprinting in brain development: an evolutionary basis for the aetiology of autism

doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01091.x

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Wiley InterScience

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

Volume 19 Issue 4, Pages 1007 - 1032

Published Online: 8 Mar 2006

Published on behalf of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB)

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MINI REVIEW

Imbalanced genomic imprinting in brain development: an evolutionary basis for the aetiology of autism

C. BADCOCK* & B. CRESPI†

*Department of Sociology, London School of Economics, London, UK
†Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada

Correspondence to B. Crespi, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, Canada. Tel.: +1 604 291 3533;
fax: +1 604 291 3496;
e-mail: crespi@sfu.ca

KEYWORDS

autism • evolution • genomic imprinting • social behaviour

ABSTRACT

We describe a new hypothesis for the development of autism, that it is driven by imbalances in brain development involving enhanced effects of paternally expressed imprinted genes, deficits of effects from maternally expressed genes, or both. This hypothesis is supported by: (1) the strong genomic-imprinting component to the genetic and developmental mechanisms of autism, Angelman syndrome, Rett syndrome and Turner syndrome; (2) the core behavioural features of autism, such as self-focused behaviour, altered social interactions and language, and enhanced spatial and mechanistic cognition and abilities, and (3) the degree to which relevant brain functions and structures are altered in autism and related disorders. The imprinted brain theory of autism has important implications for understanding the genetic, epigenetic, neurological and cognitive bases of autism, as ultimately due to imbalances in the outcomes of intragenomic conflict between effects of maternally vs. paternally expressed genes.

Received 20 October 2005; revised 6 January 2006; accepted 10 January 2006

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01091.x About DOI