Investigating Gene-Environment Interaction in a Double-Hit Model for Autism Spectrum Disorder

With the exponential advancements seen in the field of sequencing technology, the science community has come to identify hundreds of potential genetic risk factors for neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite our knowledge that such risk factors exist, we have yet to understand their specific influences on the behavioral profile of an individual. In addition, maternal infection during pregnancy can have longstanding detrimental outcomes on a child’s development. This is especially impactful with the present threat of viral infection during the pandemic. Our study aims to understand the influence of a specific genetic and environmental factor on a preclinical rodent model’s behavioral development. By assessing the interplay between gene mutations and environmental stressors, we can begin to appreciate how certain risk factors may affect indispensable cognitive processes such as attention. Neuropsychiatric disorders are complex and polygenic, but our study may aid in the understanding of what is needed to elucidate their symptomatology