Old dads linked to autism

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Mutations generate sequence diversity and provide a substrate for selection. The rate of de novo mutations is therefore of major importance to evolution. Here we conduct a study of genome-wide mutation rates by sequencing the entire genomes of 78 Icelandic parent–offspring trios at high coverage. We show that in our samples, with an average father’s age of 29.7, the average de novo mutation rate is 1.20 × 10−8 per nucleotide per generation. Most notably, the diversity in mutation rate of single nucleotide polymorphisms is dominated by the age of the father at conception of the child. The effect is an increase of about two mutations per year. An exponential model estimates paternal mutations doubling every 16.5 years. After accounting for random Poisson variation, father’s age is estimated to explain nearly all of the remaining variation in the de novo mutation counts. These observations shed light on the importance of the father’s age on the risk of diseases such as schizophrenia and autism.

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On August 24 2012 04:51 farvacola wrote:
Well this seems reasonable, we're already aware of how the mother's age affects the likelihood of certain diseases, it would follow that a father's age is similarly impactful.

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On August 24 2012 04:51 ddrddrddrddr wrote:
Well, if it's just mutations we're talking about, then it also speeds up evolution if the entire society's women go for older men right?

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On August 24 2012 04:59 Demonhunter04 wrote:


Not really, since the child grows in the mother's body.



Yes. For that matter, the natural lifespan of our species is attributed to older men having more children over their lifetime than men who did not live as long. Genes for lifespan are not sex-linked, so both genders benefit.

EDIT: Evolution is mainly spurred by the survival of the most adapted, more so than mutations.

Also, the mutation rate is incredibly low to begin with, so even doubling it a few times makes little difference.

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On August 24 2012 05:04 farvacola wrote:

Yes really, one of the most prevalent maternal age related issues with pregnancy is an increased risk of downs syndrome, which is a chromosomal defect, meaning we understand age and the quality of genetic material to be highly interrelated. The same can be clearly be applied to the quality of male genetic material.

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On August 24 2012 05:23 Demonhunter04 wrote:


Not really, since a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, and so they age over time. Men replace sperm daily.

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On August 24 2012 05:32 farvacola wrote:

The testicles age over time just as eggs do.

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On August 24 2012 04:59 Demonhunter04 wrote:


Not really, since the child grows in the mother's body.



Yes. For that matter, the natural lifespan of our species is attributed to older men having more children over their lifetime than men who did not live as long. Genes for lifespan are not sex-linked, so both genders benefit.

EDIT: Evolution is mainly spurred by the survival of the most adapted, more so than mutations.

Also, the mutation rate is incredibly low to begin with, so even doubling it a few times makes little difference.

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On August 24 2012 05:51 Alpino wrote:


Adaptation can come only from mutations coinciding with what was needed.

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On August 24 2012 05:34 Demonhunter04 wrote:


The sperm themselves are replaced. And the womb also ages over time.

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On August 24 2012 05:58 Demonhunter04 wrote:


Unless the phenotype already exists in the population.

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On August 24 2012 06:09 mcc wrote:

You mean genotype ?

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On August 24 2012 06:10 ShakAttaK wrote:
I am a high functioning Austic my dad was in his mid thirties when he and my mom had me.

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