In 2004 the Autism Genome Project (AGP) was piloted as the largest
study to cover the genetic aspects of Autism. The goal was to
determine the genes that play a role in children inheriting the ones
that lead to Autism. The technology of DNA and 120 genetic
researchers combined their knowledge and skills to complete the
study. The researchers came from 50 different research institutes and
19 different countries. Each one of them brought different DNA
samples to the project so that the theory of genetics playing a role
in Autism could be confirmed or denied.
It was believed that once this could be determined, doctors could
help identify the risk factor a couple had of their child being born
with Autism. This could definitely help lead researchers to
preventing Autism as well as eventually finding a cure for it.
The initial phase of the project involved scanning the collected
samples of DNA. These belong to 1,200 families who have a child with
Autism. The next phase was to analyze the results from the scanned
DNA. This would allow the genes dominate in individuals with Autism
to be identified. To arrive at this information the genome of 23
pairs of chromosomes were carefully reviewed....

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