Project Summary

Maricela Alarcon, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of University of California, Los Angeles, is expanding on her expertise in statistical genetics and in neurobehavioral phenotypes to identify quantitative trait loci in 152 families with autism spectrum disorders. While the genetic etiology of autism has been well established, the genes contributing to the disorder have not yet been identified. Using data from genome-wide linkage scans from one of the largest samples of families with autism available has provided some evidence as to where susceptibility genes may reside. As a result, several of these regions have been identified as high density with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and as they become available during her award, Dr. Alarcon will subject these data to association analyses. There are currently over 500 SNPs typed and ready for analysis. Dr. Alarcon will continue her training in advanced association methods and identify genes that may be involved with autism or its related traits, while continuing to make progress in the genetics of autism.

Program Area: PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS\Autism

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