The headline is so hyperbolic it's basically a lie. It becomes a little tricky because autism spectrum disorder is kind of a broad category. There are certain diseases that have clear genetic causes, other features to their phenotype besides just autism like features, but may share some aspects of autism spectrum disorder symptoms. So often these get lumped in with autism and patients with those disorders also get a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. For instance people with fragile x syndrome commonly get an autism diagnosis, but there's many other features to it as well.
This article stub if following a link at the end is referencing a gene called shank3. It's not involved in most people classified as having autism spectrum disorder. Mutations in shank3 causes a distinct disorder called Phelan-McDermid syndrome that causes severe intellectual disability, dysmorphic features, autism like features, motor issues, and abnormalities across multiple body systems. Shank3 mutations have also been linked with some cases of schizophrenia. A small minority of people with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder have shank3 mutations that may be responsible or pre disposing. So they are testing a gene therapy in mice engineered to have shank3 mutations. Which in humans can have a broad array of phenotypes depending on the mutation, many devastating and severe, some phenotypes of which include autism like features. This will not be very applicable to the vast majority of people classified as having an autism spectrum disorder.
There shouldn't be a debate. If it can be cured that's great. You don't need it don't take it - but there are barely functioning people who can't take care of themselves at all. They do need help.
Imagine a world more inclusive, for them, first, then ask that question. Imagine if the world could be made more comfortable and less traumatic and painful, for them. And there are some who are of that category that do just fine. So do we force them to change too?
Yes, because we still got things we wouldn't have without those people.
Because some are barely functioning doesn't mean they don't function. And they're so different than most people than they bring entirely different things to humanity.
It is also an obvious slippery slope to Genism and don't even try to tell me that humanity can control itself and that this won't be used the wrong way.
Either you know it will, or you're clueless about the horrors humanity exacts.
You know those vast cities in China full of brand-new, empty buildings that keep showing up in the news? They’re empty because China doesn’t have enough neurotypical people who could master the sales skills to fill them. This drug is a last-ditch attempt to fill that gap, at the potential expense of sacrificing some engineering capacity.
You're thinking of downsyndrome, trisomy ...somenumber. You can test for chromosomal abnormalities, but people with autism are often genetically normal. Just like someone with ADHD.