Posted on 01/12/2009 4:10:10 PM PST by GOPGuide
Babies exposed to high levels of the male hormone testosterone in the womb have an increased risk of autistic traits, groundbreaking research has found.
The study found children who were exposed to higher levels of the chemical during foetal development are more likely to display autistic traits from an early age.
The discovery takes prenatal screening for autism a significant step closer, raising the possibility that mothers could terminate babies with the condition.
It also, more controversially, opens the way for a cure.
Researchers made the discovery after monitoring the progress of 235 children whose mothers underwent amniotic fluid tests when pregnant.
Study leader Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, from Cambridge University, one of the world's leading experts on autism, called for a debate on the ethical implications.
He said: 'If there was a prenatal test for autism, would this be desirable? What would we lose if children with autistic spectrum disorder were eliminated from the population?
'We should start debating this. There is a test for Down's syndrome and that is legal and parents exercise their right to choose termination, but autism is often linked with talent. It is a different kind of condition.'
The paper released today is such a significant step forward because the children in the study are now aged between eight and 10 and are old enough to be psychologically assessed using two separate autism test ratings.
Scientists found a clear link in both tests between higher testosterone levels when the child was in the womb and autistic traits, reported the Guardian.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
At the same time there are those who will use this as they use everything else to seek more victims for the abortionists.
I didn’t see where they addressed the incidences of false positives for prenatal down syndrome testing. I’ve read about many cases where it was determined the baby would have downs and the mother urged to abort, but once born, the baby showed no signs of downs. Is that going to be a problem with autism testing too?
“I’ve read about many cases where it was determined the baby would have downs and the mother urged to abort, but once born, the baby showed no signs of downs. Is that going to be a problem with autism testing too?”
There are newer tests being developed that can tell with 100% accuracy.
The technology for embryo screening is becoming rapidly more accurate and less costly.
I am waiting for the discovery of the “gay gene” and people begin to abort their homosexual baby. . . imgine the left-wing agendas colliding over that one! (”Choice” vs “homosexuality of just dandy crowd”).
Hmmm. . .who would win that one? Would the left put limits of what babies can be aborted (those without the homosexual gene) and prohibit abortion of “gay” gene babies, or will the “choice” crowd win by ensuring all babies for whatever reason may be aborted. Will be an interesting hypocritical and Orwellian debate on the left.
“I am waiting for the discovery of the “gay gene” and people begin to abort their homosexual baby. . . imgine the left-wing agendas colliding over that one! (”Choice” vs “homosexuality of just dandy crowd”).”
Twin studies have shown that there ARE “gay genes”.
Homosexuality is estimated to be 50% genetic, 50% hormonal influence in the womb.
We are going to find the gay genes and either allow women to abort gay embryos or change their hormonal balance to make the embryo heterosexual.
Lord, have mercy. Please don’t let these babies be aborted. Autism can be treated in most cases.
I am just waiting for someone to come up with a prenatal test for homosexuality. If women start aborting fetuses so they won’t have homosexual children, it will make liberals’ heads explode.
Twin studies have shown that there ARE “gay genes”.
Homosexuality is estimated to be 50% genetic, 50% hormonal influence in the womb.
We are going to find the gay genes and either allow women to abort gay embryos or change their hormonal balance to make the embryo heterosexual.
Only 10% of homosexuals are born that way. The rest just get sucked into it.
“Only 10% of homosexuals are born that way. The rest just get sucked into it.”
Maybe you can get pulled into the lifestyle through years of psychological trauma and abuse.
BUT...
We have neurological studies showing that homosexual brains are “feminized” in terms of structure. So the evidence points towards a largely genetic-hormone cause of homosexuality.
Must have missed that scientific study and news flash that must have run for days and days and hyped by the Prop 8 people in California and elsewhere.
;-)
My goodness. . .if that is so, then we really have something here. Or am I misunderstand what “hormonal influence” means; do we have a specific gene that determines sexuality or is hormonal influence the same thing as having a specific gene.
By the way, would be very interested in hearing the AMA on this. Seriously.
According to GOPguide (this thread), it has been discovered.
I find that hard to believe. The possible way that I can see that happening is if there were and undeveloped twin with Down ’s syndrome in the womb.
We don’t know what the gene is, but we know it is genetic.
For instance, we know through twin studies that intelligence and IQ is 75% genetic and height is 90% genetic even though we don’t know exactly where and what specific genes are involved in height and intelligence and homosexuality.
"There is a test for Down's syndrome and that is legal and parents exercise their right to choose termination, but autism is often linked with talent."
But! --- is this not wonderful? The talented are so special, only they have a right to simply go on living?
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