When one identical twin develops autism the other is significantly more likely to also have the disorder as compared to fraternal twins, a new study finds, suggesting strongly that autism has genetic roots.

In a study of 277 sets of twins, researchers found that when one identical twin has autism, the other twin has the disorder as well in 88 percent of cases. That’s compared to just 31 percent of fraternal twins who both develop autism.

What’s more, when two identical twins have autism, they are likely to have a similar level of need both functionally and intellectually, according to the study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

The findings are significant, researchers say, because identical twins share nearly all of their genes, while fraternal twins have genetic similarities just like any other siblings would, reports Reuters. To read more click here.

Read more stories like this one. Sign up for Disability Scoop's free email newsletter to get the latest developmental disability news sent straight to your inbox.