Discussions

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) include common, impairing neurodevelopmental disorders that are present from early childhood and occur in approximately 1% of the population. Many ASD-related studies cannot be directly applied to humans due to technical or ethical constraints. Animal models provide preclinical tools to understand the role of genetic mutations and environmental factors in producing autism diagnoses and associated symptoms. Currently, mice with targeted mutations in homologous genes have been generated as translational research tools. Mouse models of autism can be used to reveal the behavioral and biological consequences of risk gene mutations.