Researchers Link Autism With Mitochondrial DNA

In a new study conducted by Cornell University, researchers have confirmed a link between forms of autism and defects in mitochondrial DNA. Published in PLOS Genetics, the study states that Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the mother. "When we compared the inheritance between the mother and the children, we confirmed this particular pattern, which is the child with autism inherited more bad mutations than their siblings during the process of passing mitochondrial DNA from mother to children," senior author Zhenglong Gu explained in a press release. Researchers claim the findings will help to better diagnose and treat children living with autism, as well as other neurodevelopmental disorders.