How are chromosome 15 changes associated with autism spectrum disorder?

Research into the heritable nature of autism has identified that a specific region on chromosome 15 can be either deleted or duplicated in some children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).1

These variations in or near this chromosomal region are significant because they have also been implicated in other conditions related to neurobiological development, including Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and epilepsy. While these findings highlight the genetic complexity of autism, the exact mechanisms by which these chromosomal changes contribute to the development of ASD remain a subject of ongoing scientific study.1