In this talk, biomedical scientist Christopher Walsh discusses how DNA sequencing techniques have led to a better understanding of the genetic basis of autism.

Autism is a general term for a spectrum of brain developmental disorders. Because autism is not a single disease, it has been difficult to identify its causes. Walsh describes how DNA sequencing technology has made it possible to identify genes that are commonly disrupted in children with autism. Studies have shown that these genes are also associated with other neurological diseases, and that they often affect communication between neurons.

This talk is from a 2013 Holiday Lecture Series, Medicine in the Genomic Era.