What is sonic hedgehog?
Sonic hedgehog is a protein that is one of the members of a group of proteins called hedgehogs. The name “hedgehog” was given to these genes and the proteins they encode by researchers who found that fruit flies with severe genetic developmental abnormalities had bristles that stuck up like the hairs of a mammal called a hedgehog. Another hedgehog protein with even more profound effects on brain growth and development was given the name after the popular character in the videogame “Sonic Hedgehog”. Mutations in the gene that controls the sonic hedgehog protein may be associated with holoprosencephaly (HPE), a condition in which there may be failure of the brain to form two separate lobes; in mild cases the children may only have hyperactivity and slightly abnormal facial features. It is possible that some children with autism might also have this abnormality. Of even greater interest is the possibility that the low cholesterol values in children with autism might lead to inactive forms
