Shane, an 11-year-old boy, has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His fraternal twin brother, Topher, is at higher risk for having ASD than would be the case if Topher were just a sibling. Why is that so?

Question

Biology

Andre Wilcox

12 March, 15:42

Shane, an 11-year-old boy, has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His fraternal twin brother, Topher, is at higher risk for having ASD than would be the case if Topher were just a sibling. Why is that so?

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Answers (1)

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Tatiana Horne · Answer 1

Genetic and Environmental Factors

Explanation:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects how a person behaves, interacts with others and learns.

Studies have found that when one identical twin has ASD, chances are extremely likely that the other twin has it, too.

Genetic and environmental factors are connected. Environmental factors includes such influences as parental age at conception, maternal nutrition, infection during pregnancy and premature.

For example, genetically, fraternal twins share about half of their genes. Because these twins shared a womb, they are more likely to have had the same environmental influences than non-twin siblings.