Celebrated Scientist Leading Research on Autism
By Delthia Ricks, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Aug. 14–Michael Wigler, the geneticist leading Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s search for the genetic basis of autism, is a celebrated scientist who has made significant contributions to the molecular understanding of cancer.
Observers say it is his rare ability to see mathematical patterns in the complexities of genes that allow him to produce new ways of understanding disorders that underlie human debilities.
It is perhaps not surprising that his work is being done at Cold Spring Harbor, a laboratory world famous for its research facilities and the home of Nobel Prize winner James Watson, co-discover of the structure of DNA.
Having conducted research at the lab for 30 years, Wigler was in the forefront of scientists who developed the tools to probe cancer’s DNA. He’s also co-discoverer of the first human oncogene, a molecule capable of transforming normal cells into malignant ones. His work at the lab also led to the development of ROMA — representational oligonucleotide microarray analysis — a highly sensitive technique that allows scientists to profile the genetic basis of cancer and other diseases.
“Michael grew up as a mathematician and began to indulge in genomics,” which required a strong mathematical background, said Dr. Mary-Claire King, the world-renowned medical geneticist at the University of Washington. She led the research team that discovered the breast cancer gene, BRCA1 and collaborated with Wigler on his initial work focusing on spontaneous mutations in autism.
King said it was largely Watson who encouraged Wigler to use his mathematical insights to clarify cancer genetics.
“In the case of autism he asked: ‘Isn’t it possible that most autism might be due to spontaneous mutations that occur at random in the healthiest of families?’
“His is not the mainstream party line on [the genetics of] autism,” King said. “But there are labs in this country and all over the world chasing Michael’s hypothesis. And they continue to find individually rare mutations that lead to this serious condition.”
Wigler said understanding the genetics of autism could provide a stronger platform for understanding all cognitive disorders, just as work involving cancer genetics added to the knowledge of cell physiology.
WHAT THEY DID
The work done at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on the causes of autism has shown that:
Autism is a genetic disorder.
It is caused by “spontaneous mutations” to the genes.
It is passed on to offspring by older parents.
—–
To see more of Newsday, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsday.com
Copyright (c) 2007, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.