The Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Gender Dysphoria

This paper investigates the genetic correlations between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Gender Dysphoria (GD) using network science techniques applied to data from the National Institute of Health's All of Us research program. Despite extensive research on the genetic etiology of ASD and the phenotypic overlaps between ASD and GD, a genetic component linking the two has not been explored thoroughly. Our study addresses this gap by integrating phenotypic data and genetic variations, specifically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), to construct a network graph that reveals potential genetic intersections between these conditions. We identify a single gene linking ASD and GD, indicating a potential genetic overlap. This finding is significant as the gene has been associated with several psychiatric conditions, including ASD.Clinical relevance-The study's methodology extends existing research by combining phenotypic and genetic data to analyze the comorbidity of two different conditions. Our results not only provide insights into the genetic correlations between ASD and GD but also demonstrate the utility of network science in medical research. The approach used here could be generalized to other conditions, offering a new way to understand genetic relationships in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.