Bartholomew Cubbins on Autism
As a scientist and a parent of a child on the spectrum, I wear many hats thoughout the day. I believe the pursuit of understanding the roots of autism and other neurological disorders affecting children to be one of the most important things one might do with their professional and free time. Comments and debate are welcome, abuse is not.
37 Comments:
Hi Bart
Congratulations for your clear english , I could understand almost everything.
I have had always the intuition that the path of the study of the genetic expression in terms of levels of certain proteins and the impact of environment- more than the full sequencing would be more fruitful in terms of understanding. One aspect to consider- beyond the full sequencing is the epigenetics, that can alter in several ways the expression and this means many levels of environment effect.
Therefore I wonder, considering your presentation Dont you think that we would have more fruitful paths in research than the full genome sequencing in autism- Considering high level of tech and highest standards of science- in terms of metabolism, physiology and biochemistry in autism considering the detection of different subgroups?
Hi Maria, Genome sequencing is the ultimate in quantitation. There is no guesswork, there is no interpretation. And I think that these experiments are too easy to ignore.
Of course you're right about epigenetics - it's probably going to impact more heredity than we can imagine at this point, but it's a harder question to answer.
There are high throughput DNA methylation tests and I advocate these as well, but one has to start somewhere and I think this is the best place.
Very enlightening. Those of us who are on your side, but are also non-biologist/geneticist/scientists really appreciate these well-encapsulated presentations.
Keep up the good work, BC.
BC, I think this is one of your best yet -- very understandable, with clean audio and uncomplicated visuals. And that straightforward estimate of what it would cost to do this particular job right -- it's a great message to the funding folks to JFDI.
Hi Bart -- this is somewhat of a comment hijack.
It's Liz from I Speak of Dreams.
Alpha Blogger Robert Scoble is promoting the idea that mercury/vaccinations are implicated in autism. Can you help rebut?
First post
http://scobleizer.com/2007/05/04/my-parental-heroes/
May 4, 2007
My Parental Heroes
Today I was interviewing Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho
[snip]
2) He [2) He personally believes that something about the vaccinations that we’re giving our kids triggers it, or plays a role. He understands that this is a controversial belief, but he says he noticed a major regression after his son had three vaccinations in one day.
3) Some kids do see improvement. He’s working with doctors around the world and said he’s seen a huge improvement in his son’s case with changes in diet and other treatments.] personally believes that something about the vaccinations that we’re giving our kids triggers it, or plays a role. He understands that this is a controversial belief, but he says he noticed a major regression after his son had three vaccinations in one day.
3) Some kids do see improvement. He’s working with doctors around the world and said he’s seen a huge improvement in his son’s case with changes in diet and other treatments.
[snip]
Second post
http://scobleizer.com/2007/05/07/followup-to-my-autism-post/
Followup to my Autism post
Zoli Erdos follows up my Autism post with a lengthy, thoughtful, and well-researched post. Thanks Zoli for doing that.
Zoli's post
http://www.zoliblog.com/blog/_archives/2007/5/6/2930024.html
[snip]
Chelation, and mercury-contamination as primary cause are highly controversial - however, some parents clearly feel they don't have other choices left. If treatment can be be successful at all, it has better chances at early stages, so they feel they don't have the luxury of waiting for the medical establishment to clear the way. (Talk about "luxury", not all families can afford these treatments, some costing $50K and more).
The Scoble article sparked a heated debate amongst commenters - mostly parents of kids with autism. The dispute around the merits of biomedical treatments, vaccination as a cause are not surprising - but I am seeing another battle-line drawn, between those who are seeking to cure autism, and those who reject a "cure", since autism is not a disease, not a developmental disorder... it's just the way some people are, and that's all right.
[snip]
'm struggling to put this into words, as I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but the point I'm trying to make is this: while it's everyone's right to select their approach to autism, and for many acceptance is the right one, denial does not help - after all, if you could eradicate autism overnight, you'd probably do it, so let other people pursue this option... they are not doing it to hurt you.
[snip]
I know it is like whack-a-mole, but Scoble is sufficiently promenent that this does deserve some response.
Thats what you think,
Occam and his razor indeed, but nothing but nothing is so simple in the real universe,
Quantition indeed when even the concept of number is indeterminate in anything but an appreciation of human and higher animal cognition.
It is only real because you think so, but you cannot concieve of the mechanisms that make you think so, as it is outside the box and not factored into the equation
I really like the information you supplied, because my daughters are very unique and feel it is important look at a variety points of view. With my autistic daughter who is unique, which I can also prove due the genetic test I completed based on the book "Genetic ByPass" and of course Amy Yasko. Her mutation are in the Mae A, VDR and SUOX of the Methylation Pathways and we completed RNA Metals 1, 2, 3 and 4. The great news of all is she has increase language and her behavior is changing. So I know you are not a fan of RNA in the bottle, but it has changed my daughter (Nineteen years old and completely disabled) and she is improving. Keep publishing, because it is important that we do not see autism as all one, but the possibility of uniqueness among an umbrella group label that is termed autisms.
I really like the information you supplied, because my daughters are unique and feel it is important look at a variety points of view. With my autistic daughter who is unique, which I can also prove due the genetic test I completed based on the book "Genetic ByPass" and of course Amy Yasko. Her mutation are in the Mae A, VDR and SUOX of the Methylation Pathways and we completed RNA Metals 1, 2, 3 and 4. The great news of all is she has increase language and her behavior is changing. So I know you are not a fan of RNA in the bottle but it has changed my daughter and she is improving. Keep publishing, because it is important that we do not see autism as all one, but the possibility of uniqueness among an umbrella group label that is termed autisms.
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbee and your success is very much an inspiration for me. Please come visit my site Fire Station when you got time.
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog? Please come visit my site Life Insurance and give me any valuable feedbacks.
I really liked your blog! You have some great content. I would love some feedback on my siteUS electricians when you got time.
Thanks for posting, definitely going to subscribe! See you on my reader. Please come visit my siteWholesale distributor when you got time.
I am not really sure if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your great job is clearly identifed. I was wondering if you offer any subscription to your RSS feeds as I would be very interested and can’t find any link to subscribe here. Please come visit my site stock brokers when you got time.
This is just another reason why I like your website. I like your style of writing you tell your stories without out sending us to 5 other sites to complete the story. Please come visit my site swimming pool equipment when you got time.
Hey congrats on the new posting come out
btw i love your blog although i have just stumbled upon it =)
Love the new pictures you got there! Please come visit my site Photographers when you got time.
love your blog! Very cool! Please come visit my site Wildlife Refuges and give me any valuable feedbacks.
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my site something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog? Please come visit my site Province of Ontario when you got time.
Oh Pat, you’ve got friends! Don’t give me that. Your blog looks great and has good info. You can be friends with me. Please come visit my site gerd medication when you got time. Thanks.
Me and my friend were arguing about an issue similar to this! Now I know that I was right. lol! Thanks for the information you post. Please visit my site congestive heart failure symptoms when you got time.
Great tips. I am new to business, trying to visit more business blogs for guides and tips.
You can be friends with me. Please come visit my site Madison Business Directory when you got time. Thanks.
Nice blog design. This seems like it would be a very interesting blog to keep up with. Please come visit my site Denver Yellow Page Business Directory when you got time.
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for information that can help me. Thank you. Please come visit my site Glendale Yellow Page Business Directory when you got time.
I found your site on google, great site, keep it up. Will return in the future. Submitted this post to Google News Reader. Please come visit my site Kansas City Business Directory when you got time.
right. lol! Thanks for the information you post. Please come visit my site Atlanta Business Directory when you got time.
Couldn't be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing! Please come visit my site Long Beach Business Directory when you got time.
This is just another reason why I like your website. I like your style of writing you tell your stories without out sending us to 5 other sites to complete the story. Please come visit my site Austin Web Link when you got time.
This is just another reason why I like your website. I like your style of writing you tell your stories without out sending us to 5 other sites to complete the story. Please come visit my site Directory Austin City when you got time.
I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business. Please come visit my site Dallas Phone Book when you got time.
I was thinking of looking up some of them newspaper websites, but am glad I came here instead. Although glad is not quite the right word… let me just say I needed this after the incessant chatter in the media, and am grateful to you for articulating something many of us are feeling - even from distant shores. Please come visit my site San Diego Yellow Pages when you got time.
You may have not intended to do so, but I think you have managed to express the state of mind that a lot of people are in. The sense of wanting to help, but not knowing how or where, is something a lot of us are going through. Please come visit my site Texas TX Phone Directory when you got time.
I am not really sure if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your great job is clearly identifed. I was wondering if you offer any subscription to your RSS feeds as I would be very interested and can’t find any link to subscribe here. Please come visit my site Business Trade Guide of San Jose California CA when you got time.
I found your site on google, great site, keep it up. Will return in the future. Submitted this post to Google News Reader. Please come visit my site Business Resources Comprehensive Listings when you got time.
Hello, What enticed you to post this article. It was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for info on this subject last Thursday. Please come visit my site Business Reviews Of Arlington City when you got time.
Me and my friend were arguing about an issue similar to this! Now I know that I was right. lol! Thanks for the information you post. Please come visit my site Anaheim Web Link when you got time.
Me and my friend were arguing about an issue similar to this! Now I know that I was right. lol! Thanks for the information you post. Please come visit my site City Guide Anaheim when you got time.
Thanks for the interesting audio and the point it intended to make with it in understanding a certain "message."
It's always great to meet a new friend. I'm looking forward to reading your blog AND your posts here on our cwazy, loveable but always respectable site.
Post a Comment
<< Home