Scientists uncover potential genetic mechanisms behind the sex bias observed in autism

Summary:Research found that increased Ube3a gene dosage in mice had sex-specific effects on autism-associated genes and brain function, potentially explaining the sex bias in autism. The study discovered that many autism-associated genes were dysregulated in a sex-dependent manner in the prefrontal cortex, with some genes upregulated in males but downregulated in females, and vice versa. This suggests that genetic mechanisms interacting with sex hormones may contribute to the sex bias in autism.