http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Researchers have turned up a new clue to the workings of a possible environmental factor in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs): fathers were four times more likely than mothers to transmit tiny, spontaneous mutations to their children with the disorders. Moreover, the number of such transmitted genetic glitches increased with paternal age. The discovery may help to explain earlier evidence linking autism risk to older fathers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-spontaneous-gene-glitches-linked-autism.html Autism spectrum disorders Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:19:17 EST news252775142 Mutations in three new genes have been linked to autism, according to new studies including one with investigators at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. All three studies include lead investigators of the Autism Sequencing Consortium (ASC). The findings, in a trio of papers revealing new genetic targets in autism, are published in the April 4th online issue of the journal Nature. The studies provide new insights into important genetic changes and the many biological pathways that lead to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-mutations-genes-linked-autism-spectrum.html Autism spectrum disorders Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:00:01 EST news252758397 Gene scans for everyone? Not so fast. New research suggests that for the average person, decoding your own DNA may not turn out to be a really useful crystal ball for future health. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-gene-fast.html Genetics Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:47:19 EST news252589619