To me, a person is not "diseased" unless they think they are

I say this not knowing if I am an NT or not...
HOWEVER, I would think a genetic basis for -and, INDEED, a genetic understanding behind the fundamental BIOLOGICAL mechanics behind autism- including "ASD".

I could one day hope to discover "How aspie I am, genetically", with a simple blood test.

There are also other benefits to humanity from discovering "Aspie-related genes".

Kapkao, I'm wondering what you mean by the whole 'benefits' thing. I might be a bit cynical, but the only thing I can think of that the whole 'discovering genes of the Aspie' stuff could lead to is things that could be turned against us, either by public opinion or by places like Autism Squawks.
Just wanting some clarification on what benefits you're thinking would be coming fromit that would be useful to us Aspies.

I am a cynic as well... but to me... a person with Asperger's is the missing link between "Homo Sapiens Sapiens"  and HOMO SUPERIOR.

That's all. Aspies are the "ubermensch" that Friederich Nietzsche spoke of.[/b]

Unfortunately the cynic in me is warning that there would be a minority of Neurotypicals who would be very adverse to another type of human trying to increase their numbers, and would then agitate the others, those who were undecided or just didn't know much about autism, to get our genes taken out of the human species.  

The easiest way to do that would be via a test, then the parent/s would be told they had a potential "tragedy" in utero and offered an abortion.  One rarely sees Downs Syndrome children being born anymore, at least not in the countries where prenatal testing is routinely done.  That's the only reason I hope our genes remain hidden for as long as possible.

Alison

I should just add, my own sister was in a similar position when a test showed what's known as a false positive to her last pregnancy.  

The doctors were convinced that my unborn niece had Down's Syndrome due to an ultrasound and advised my sister to have an abortion as it was "highly likely that the baby will have Down's Syndrome".  Luckily there was some debate amongst them and my sister chose to continue the pregnancy.  

My niece not only doesn't have Down's, she's recently been dx'd as a high-functioning Aspie.  I'm very grateful my sister decided against abortion, despite the doctor's advice, as my niece is a delight, funny, intelligent, good at her studies, just a little awkward in social settings.  

Alison

No.

No, seconded.

Kapkao, I'll direct your attention to a blog posting by Amanda Baggs on the subject of Aspie Supremacy.
link

Of course if the genes directly responsible for the traits that are positive are found, (like those who have superb almost savant skills in one area eg Einstein) someone will patent them and offer to install them. Needless to say, they won't be called aspie. Viva la Aspie.

"Aspie Supremacy can kill"

So be it, but that doesn't mean I'm inclined to believe.

I'm an awkward individual... and aside from ADD and (severe) depression... I am undiagnosed.

I guess I actually like being... awkward... but I don't see the inherent utility of being flawed.

An imperfect human is a human in pain. At least... that is how I see the world, from my own experiences. "Viva la aspie" is irrelevant to me.

Why intentionally be deficient?

Primitive species feel threatened by more evolved ones, yes. Natural history repeats itself...

In our history, if we and those not on our spectrum , evolved side by side, how could one be superior to the other. We are both still here, neither side went extinct, we are just different from one another.

Humans aren't perfect, or imperfect for that matter.  We just are.

Humans are disgusting... and prone to suffering. They also act self-destructively.

Aspies? None of the above, although one aspie kid 4 years younger than me  seemed... to enjoy harassing me. Maybe he wanted to be a bully... I figured out how to defend myself, regardless.

Ketchup.

He didn't enjoy soiled clothes for some reason... it frightened him, almost.

Of course no-one is intentionally deficient. However all people of whatever neurotype have some sort of strength even if it isn't obvious to them.

As an aspies, I am not flawed, per se, (only by societies interpretation of aspies) but I am very different to the mainstream, typical NT. I see things in a different way, do things in a different way, but am I deficient? No.

I can see things (well naturally, most aspies are very visual) long before most other people, and I communicate in a very different way and am very awkward if communicating NT style as I need to translate everything into pictures, then back into words. But I ask, it that a deficiency or an advantage?

I much prefer to think of it as an advantage. One that allows me to function. The only problem it is hard for me to communicate unless someone has similar traits and thinks in much the same way.

The only deficiency as I see see it is a society that wants every to conform to the same strait jacket of mediocrity. For me, I can never and will not conform to what others want me to be.

Viva La Aspie Difference.
PS What a boring world would it be if everyone was the same.

"As you wish" -Spock, multiple occasions

"Difference" is irrelevant. But then... "stubbornness" may be irrelevant too.

Hard to tell. 6 of one dozen, half of the other.