• Autism
  • About Us
  • Ways to Give
    • Participate
      • Toys R Us Canada Play packs
      • World Autism Month
        • Meet Ileana
        • Meet Lindsay
        • Meet Mackenna
        • Meet Daud
        • Meet Griffin
        • Meet Dr. Catherine G.
        • Meet Wanda Deschamps
        • Meet Jackie McMillan
        • Meet Steven Atme
        • Meet Jack Baranoff
        • Meet Olivier St-Amour
      • Autism Speaks Canada Walk
        • marchons
        • Current and Past Ambassadors
      • Autism Speaks Canada bubly Smile Day
      • Autism Speaks Canada Virtual Dog Walk & Auction
      • Game On with Autism Speaks Canada
      • Giving Tuesday
      • Facebook Fundraisers
      • Fundraise Your Way
      • Team Up!
      • One-Time Gifts
      • Monthly Giving
      • Honour Someone Special
      • Support an Event Participant
      • Birthdays with Echoage
      • Estate and Tax Smart Giving
      • Donate a Car
    • Become a Partner
      • Meet Our Partners
        • Gifted Canada
        • Vancouver Foundation
        • McConnell Foundation
        • Azrieli Foundation
        • Scentsy Canada
        • Samsung Canada
        • Randstad
        • Metrocon Ready Mix Corp.
        • PepsiCo
        • dentalcorp
        • Cadillac Fairview
        • Cherry Hill
        • ToysRUs/BabiesRUs
        • Equitable Life of Canada
        • KRG
        • Cineplex
        • Kernels
        • NFP
        • Bank of Montreal
        • A Buyer's Choice
        • Echoage
        • Donate a Car
        • Canadian Heritage - Government of Canada
        • Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill
        • Nutrience
      • Cash and In-Kind Donations
      • Cause Related Marketing
      • Corporate Teams
      • Event Hosting
      • Matching Gifts
      • Sponsorship
      • Corporate Volunteering
      • Workplace Giving
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Stories
    • Merchandise
  • Science, Services & Supports
    • Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Results
    • COVID-19 Information and Resources by our Autism Response Team
      • Families & Caregivers Looking for Children Resources
      • Adults on the Spectrum Looking for Resources
      • Virtual Events for Everyone
      • Other Useful Links for Everyone
      • Surveys
    • Science
      • Science News
      • Grant Search
      • Apply for Grants or Fellowships
      • MSSNG
      • Autism Treatment Network
        • ATN@Work
      • Participate In Research
        • Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Developmental Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
        • Caring for the Caregiver
        • Kids Brain Health Network
        • Family Participation in Research
        • It Takes Brains
        • Interactive Autism Network
        • Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
        • University of Toronto
        • York University
      • Science Blogs
      • Science Digest
        • Spring 2018
    • Family Services
      • Family Services Community Grants
        • FSCG Grant Review Volunteers
      • Family Services Special Targeted Initiatives Grants
        • Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN)
        • Integrated Services for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ISAND)
      • Family Services Partnerships
        • Family Services Community Grants
        • Tablet Program
        • Sensory Friendly Screenings
        • Sensory Friendly Santa – Enjoy a Virtual Visit with Santa!
      • Worktopia
    • Resources
      • Apps
      • Technology Central
      • Going Out to Eat
      • Health & Wellness
      • Bullying
      • Wandering
      • Templates for Personalized Teaching Stories
      • Community Connections
      • My Job Chart
      • Resource Library
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Accessing Government Services
      • Your Religious Community
    • ASC Connect
  • News, Media Request & Contact Us
    • News
      • News
        • Autism Speaks Canada's statement about the Alek Minassian case and its misrepresentation of autism
        • ASC, CASDA, and MacART come together to present the Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey Report
        • SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data
        • Toys R Us Canada in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada is proud to launch discounted play packs
        • Olivier, Our Dog Walk Ambassador Is in the News
        • Covid-19, We Are in This Together
        • Advocates and researchers discuss solutions to reduce autism health care disparities
        • Justin Trudeau Announces Endorsement for Development of a National Autism Strategy
        • Join Us in Creating a Brighter Life on the Spectrum
        • Media Advisory: Trudeau Is Only Major Party Leader Not Committed To A National Autism Strategy
        • Large family-based study finds 80 percent of autism risk is from inherited genes
        • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with MKM group and Shattered Dreams Esports
        • Autism Speaks awards more than $4.7 million for autism research
        • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with bubly sparkling water beverage
        • Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism
        • Senator Munson's Visit to McMaster May 21, 2019
        • Community Connections Inspire Samsung Canada and Autism Speaks Canada
        • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Waterloo this Sunday
        • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Toronto
        • Autism Speaks' MSSNG project reaches 10,000-genome milestone
        • The Canada Council for the Arts Reveals the 2019 Killam Program Winners
        • Light It up Blue With Autism Speaks Canada
        • Response to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
        • DNAstack and Autism Speaks® Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Scientific Discovery on One of the World's Largest Autism Genome Databases
        • Autism Speaks launches $1.5 million funding opportunity for treatment studies
        • Whole genome sequencing reveals new type of genetic influence on autism
        • Understanding the 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) Report
        • Autism Speaks releases new strategic plan for science
        • World's largest autism genome databank adds more than 2,000 sequences
        • Support Rooted in Desire to Improve Lives
        • Samsung Canada, Silken Laumann and Autism Speaks Canada Invite Canadians to Learn the Love Spectrum
        • Your ATN@Work: Treating anxiety in children and teens with autism
        • Your ATN@Work: Recognizing anxiety in children and teens with autism
        • Expanding Service Options for Children and Youth with Autism
        • Tracing autism's trajectories could help explain its diversity
        • Gathering MSSNG Insights on Autism
        • Thomas Frazier to join Autism Speaks as Chief Science Officer
        • Study Aims to Crack Autism Code
        • Ontario Ombudsman has released the report, Nowhere to Turn
        • The Autism World: Choosing In
        • The Government of Canada wants your input as they develop accessibility legislation
        • The University of Windsor is looking for fathers across Canada
        • Autism Speaks MSSNG study expands understanding of autism's complex genetics.
        • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
        • The Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada Partner With Organizations Across Canada to Improve Employment Futures for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
        • Ontario Providing More Supports For Children With Autism
        • Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P researchers present studies at IMFAR
        • More than 5,000 whole genome sequences now available for research into autism subtypes and personalized treatments
        • Spokesperson for the Minister answers FAQ's regarding Ontario Autism Program
        • Giving children roots and wings: the struggle to understand autism.
        • Information for families about changes to autism services for children & youth
        • Ontario Budget Announcement
        • Ontario government announces new Ontario Autism Program with investment of $333 million over the next five years
        • 'Aging Out': What happens when children with ASD get older?
        • PBS NewsHour Looks at MSSNG Genome Project
        • New Canada-U.S. Partnership Paves the Way for International Collaborations in Autism Research
        • Autism Speaks Launches MSSNG Portal for Open-Access Genomics Research
        • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
        • Kinetic Sand Teams Up with Autism Speaks to Raise Awareness
        • Learning to better understand autism spectrum disorder
        • 2014 Family Services Community Grants Announcement
        • Cineplex and Autism Speaks to offer Sensory Friendly Screenings
        • Diversity in Developmental Trajectories in Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder
        • Largest genome sequencing study finds surprises: siblings' autism may have different genetic causes
COVID-19 Information and Resources
  • EN
    • FR
  • A A
  • Accessibility
  • Donate Now
 
Autism Speaks EN Autism Speaks EN
  • Autism
  • About Us
  • Ways to Give
  • Science, Services & Supports
  • News, Media Request & Contact Us
  1. Home
  2. News, Media Request & Contact Us
  3. News
  4. News
  5. SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data
  • News
    • Autism Speaks Canada's statement about the Alek Minassian case and its misrepresentation of autism
    • ASC, CASDA, and MacART come together to present the Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey Report
    • SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data
    • Toys R Us Canada in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada is proud to launch discounted play packs
    • Olivier, Our Dog Walk Ambassador Is in the News
    • Covid-19, We Are in This Together
    • Advocates and researchers discuss solutions to reduce autism health care disparities
    • Justin Trudeau Announces Endorsement for Development of a National Autism Strategy
    • Join Us in Creating a Brighter Life on the Spectrum
    • Media Advisory: Trudeau Is Only Major Party Leader Not Committed To A National Autism Strategy
    • Large family-based study finds 80 percent of autism risk is from inherited genes
    • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with MKM group and Shattered Dreams Esports
    • Autism Speaks awards more than $4.7 million for autism research
    • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with bubly sparkling water beverage
    • Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism
    • Senator Munson's Visit to McMaster May 21, 2019
    • Community Connections Inspire Samsung Canada and Autism Speaks Canada
    • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Waterloo this Sunday
    • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Toronto
    • Autism Speaks' MSSNG project reaches 10,000-genome milestone
    • The Canada Council for the Arts Reveals the 2019 Killam Program Winners
    • Light It up Blue With Autism Speaks Canada
    • Response to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
    • DNAstack and Autism Speaks® Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Scientific Discovery on One of the World's Largest Autism Genome Databases
    • Autism Speaks launches $1.5 million funding opportunity for treatment studies
    • Whole genome sequencing reveals new type of genetic influence on autism
    • Understanding the 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) Report
    • Autism Speaks releases new strategic plan for science
    • World's largest autism genome databank adds more than 2,000 sequences
    • Support Rooted in Desire to Improve Lives
    • Samsung Canada, Silken Laumann and Autism Speaks Canada Invite Canadians to Learn the Love Spectrum
    • Your ATN@Work: Treating anxiety in children and teens with autism
    • Your ATN@Work: Recognizing anxiety in children and teens with autism
    • Expanding Service Options for Children and Youth with Autism
    • Tracing autism's trajectories could help explain its diversity
    • Gathering MSSNG Insights on Autism
    • Thomas Frazier to join Autism Speaks as Chief Science Officer
    • Study Aims to Crack Autism Code
    • Ontario Ombudsman has released the report, Nowhere to Turn
    • The Autism World: Choosing In
    • The Government of Canada wants your input as they develop accessibility legislation
    • The University of Windsor is looking for fathers across Canada
    • Autism Speaks MSSNG study expands understanding of autism's complex genetics.
    • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
    • The Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada Partner With Organizations Across Canada to Improve Employment Futures for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • Ontario Providing More Supports For Children With Autism
    • Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P researchers present studies at IMFAR
    • More than 5,000 whole genome sequences now available for research into autism subtypes and personalized treatments
    • Spokesperson for the Minister answers FAQ's regarding Ontario Autism Program
    • Giving children roots and wings: the struggle to understand autism.

Donate Landing photo

COVID-19 Information and Resources

SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data

NEW YORK (July 27, 2020) – Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) uncovered new genetic changes and specific genes linked to autism in a study using Autism Speaks’ MSSNG whole genome database.

Previous research estimates that genetic changes are the primary contributor for as many as 50 to 90 percent of people with autism, although a specific genetic change can be linked currently in only about 20 percent of people with autism.

The new study, published today in the journal Nature, found that tandem repeat expansions are linked to autism. Tandem repeat expansions are sections of DNA that get duplicated next to each other, in sequence, many times over, in the way one wrinkle in a piece of paper when photocopied becomes multiple wrinkles. The larger the number of repeats of that DNA wrinkle, the greater the chances are that the person will develop a genetic condition.

With a new data computing approach, Dr. Ryan Yuen, Ph.D., was able to quickly search for these wrinkles in people with autism, uncovering that these changes were likely contributing to the development of autism – and in several new areas of the genome that were not previously linked to autism.

“We’re effectively searching millions of repetitive regions of DNA simultaneously and decoding them in a way no one has ever been able to do,” says Yuen, principal investigator of the study, scientist in the Genetics & Genome Biology program at SickKids and an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. “Our computational approach can determine the outliers – the tandem repeats that have an exceptionally high number of repetitions and could change how our genes function.”

This type of big data analysis is only possible with large databases of genetic information, such as the more than 11,000 whole genome sequences of people with autism and their families in the MSSNG database, but more importantly the approach MSSNG undertook, whole genome sequencing – looking at the entire DNA - was critical to finding these repeats in areas not previously studied.

“The important part of this discovery is that it defines a new biology for ASD that can help us define new targets and treatments,” said Dean Hartley, senior director of genetic discovery and translational science at Autism Speaks and a co-author of the study.  “This groundbreaking finding is a great example of what the MSSNG project aims to achieve: to understand genetic contributions to autism that will help lead to new and personalized interventions for people with autism.”

The researchers will extend these findings into future studies to link certain DNA changes to subtypes of autism identified by their clinical symptoms, with the goal of accelerating precision diagnosis and personalized medicine for people with autism.

“In order to conduct a robust analysis, we drew upon Autism Speaks’ MSSNG, a growing whole genome sequence database of families affected by ASD who are keen to better understand the many questions we all have about the condition,” said Dr. Stephen Scherer, co-author of the study, director of The Centre for Applied Genomics (TCAG) at SickKids, and director of the McLaughlin Centre at the University of Toronto. “This discovery would not have been possible without the families who are as committed to scientific exploration as the researchers themselves.”

Sick Kids Research

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. To find resources, join an event or make a donation, go to www.autismspeaks.org.

Learn more by following @autismspeaks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

About MSSNG

MSSNG is a groundbreaking project that is identifying and deepening our understanding of the many subtypes of autism, while supporting the development of more effective and personalized interventions to improve daily function, health and quality of life across the broad autism spectrum. Established through the generosity of several visionary philanthropic investors, MSSNG is the world’s largest open-access genome database on autism and the technological cornerstone of Autism Speaks vision to one day ensure that each child diagnosed with autism has a personalized treatment plan – unique and customizable across a lifetime. MSSNG is a collaboration between Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks Canada, Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences), DNAstack and Dr. Stephen Scherer’s laboratory at the Centre for Applied Genomics at The University of Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

About Autism Speaks Canada

Autism Speaks Canada is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families by supporting and working with community partners; enhancing resources and services; increasing understanding, acceptance and inclusion of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.

Learn more and join the conversation at www.AutismSpeaks.ca, on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @AutismSpeaksCanada, and on Twitter @AutismSpeaksCan.

 

Contact Us
  • 2450 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 400
    Toronto, ON M2J 4A2
  • Local: 416-362-6227
  • Toll Free: 1-888-362-6227
  • Fax: 416-362-6228
  • About
  • ASC Connect
  • Get Involved
  • Science, Services & Resources
  • Ways to Give
  • News
  • Media Request & Contact Us
Our Partners
Nutrience
Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill
Canadian Heritage - Government of Canada
Donate a Car
Echoage
A Buyer's Choice
Bank of Montreal
NFP
Kernels
Cineplex
KRG
Equitable Life of Canada
ToysRUs/BabiesRUs
Cherry Hill
Cadillac Fairview
dentalcorp
PepsiCo
Metrocon Ready Mix Corp.
Randstad
Samsung Canada
  • © 2021 Autism Speaks Canada
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy