I would lean towards random mutation in the origination of aspies. Its certainly not a lethal mutation. In the right circumstances it can be a beneficial mutation. Except it is generally seen as not society wide because of the social interaction problems.

However, at one time certain people who certainly had aspies were praised for their abilities instead of being denegrated as often happens now. They passed their genes along almost certainly.

I think that new motion is as recent as jenny mccartney[I hear about her on podcast if i spelled the wrong she’s an ****!]

Just to expand on this and perhaps introduce the idea that some have suggested that Neanderthals did not become extinct as is commonly proposed by scientists, but rather became assimilated into the human genome. I recall reading a book once that attributed superior intelligence to Neanderthals than what they are credited with. The only proposed reason for this is the larger cranial vault of the Neanderthal type.

Nevertheless I just want to touch on the idea that 'better' in evolution does not always mean superior; especially when seen from the advocates of 'normalcy'. In evolution a being which is slower, smaller, etc. is sometimes exactly what is called for in a particular environment and will outsurvive the quicker, bigger individuals therefore exerting a selective pressure.

The fact that a gene for Asperger's is quite obviously selected in human populations simply means that it confers some utility or advantage; and does not imply of itself superiority.

Asperger's is the next step in evolution, once all the NT's die out and kill themselves off with their weapons of war and arrogant attitude we'll be left to rule..... at least that's my hope ;\

I don't believe Asperger's is caused by evolution - it just is a phenomenon that has happened and was probably present from the inception of the human race.

sorry mate - whilst it is a form of evolution, it doesn't mean we are the next step - it doesn't work like that.

because all NTs are violent, aggressive thugs and all aspies are flawless, immaculate citizens.... riiiiight

Aspies is not strictly evolution happening, but is a result of how evolution occurs. A mutation that is not lethal gets carried foward in the gene pool of a species. However that trait can be of benefit in certain situations. If that situation ever occurs, that particular trait may well become dominant. I can't really imagine what scenario for aspies that may be, but apparently aspies in a crisis prevents the person from being frozen to the spot and gets the person to flee pretty fast and think logically. I do know in the few life and death situations I have been in (engine failure in a/c, near car crash) I can certainly react immediately, without hesitation, without emotion, without discussion, even though I have a meltdown from it later. Apparently it is quite common for other neurotypes to freeze up when presented with the same situations. I could imagine a pure NT having to fully discuss the situation socially to come up with a plan.

I'm with you on that one. lol!

I love sex and I'm an aspie.

They should make that into a shirt...

I was always told I was a genius and a prodigy even. They never saw my IQ scores though. Here's a sneak into my verbal IQ score: 84. LOL! I'm brilliant!

The observed fact that Aspergers runs in families means that a genetic reason is overwhelmingly likely

As I undrestand it, Aspergers is probably not a single mutation, but a group of genes that habitually mutate or vary in a certain way.

Many genes exist in two common variants.  Blue / Brown eyes is one, and blood groups are another.  Sometimes these genes are superficial - like eye colour, and sometimes they are not.

There is increasing evidence that Aspergers is linked to certain combinations of genes involving the architecture of the brain.  My son & I have a 'delayed ageing' gene, which meant that we reach physical development milestones around 10-20% later than our peers.  I lost my milk teeth late, went through puberty late, but now in my early 40's I look around 5 years younger than my real age.

This delayed ageing slows down the rate at which the limbic system develops, and it is this region of the brain that controls emotions, social behaviour & probably houses the 'Executive Function' of the brain.  Kids with this delayed development will be slower at developing, and will tend to lose confidence in competition - hindering development into adulthood.

This gene - which is common & part of the natural human variation, is moderately correlated with Aspergers - meaning that it is may be one of several causal factors, or may share a causal factor.

Evolution has no direction - it's all about adapting to niches.  A social species like us survives best if everyone is good at different things, and so variations of the kind that cause Aspergers will be positively selected for.  If homo sapiens develops into a highly technological society where information & facts become a more valuable currency, then the Geek will thrive, and dominate the genetic landscape.

Then revenge will be ours - BWAH HAH HAH !

I'm not so sure you are defining "tribe" correctly.  In a REAL tribe (as opposed to some artificial corporate construct or the idiocy on "Survivor") there were all kinds of individuals with various specialized skills, and each was valued.  Some were hunters, some made tools, some gathered vegetable foods, some were shamans and healers, etc.   As I have said in other threads, Aspies would have been an advantage to a hunter-gatherer since, in order to hunt and gather well, you have to be able to hyper-focus on one thing for a long time.  Chit-chatting on the hunt would scare the game away!

I live in a Native American (Indian) area and the Native cultures focus a lot on individuality, NOT group-think as in modern urban society.  Each person designs their own dance regalia according to a personal vision (inner identity/quest) and, although there might be certain styles of feathers or beadwork in certain tribes, each costume is unique and personalized.  And not everyone is social.  In fact, many Native people prefer to live in more remote areas.  One of the compalints people have repeatedly told me about government housing projects on the reservations is that all the houses are too close together.

BTW, I don't think I'm superior to NTs, just different.  And I think the human race needs those differences.  Monocultures (genetic or social) are less adaptable in a crisis than diverse cultures.  The Irish potato famine was due to growing one variety of potatoes everywhere, and when a disease hit, it wiped out all the fields.  I think the same can happen if societies become too socially homogenized.

My dad was looking for a thinly settled place to retire.

That's why he got 2 acres in WV right around the time Mom found out she was pregnant with me. (She had a history of miscarriage, except I survived. Mom once had an OB/GYN who took a hands off approach to very early miscarriage, saying it was a way of rejecting genetic damage.  Finally with total bed rest she had two survivors. She gave up on plans for a third, not wishing to put two through total bed rest... what if there was an Asperger-miscarriage link?)

Dad did not like the suburbs or socializing. I think he was Aspie.

I'm sure you have a point there my friend.  I've always thought there is something very 'Aspie' about the Native North Americans, and something very NT about the way the European settlers treated them.

Same goes for the Australian Aborigines & Bushmen types.  Maybe Aspergers is an adaptation to certain ecological niches.