What are the latest theories on the cause of AS/autism?

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I think a multi-gene theroy is the best cause, with different combinations of autistic genes resulting in a different location on the spectrum.

Which in the grand scheme of things is a double-edged sword. It proves were not "brain-damaged" in the strictest sense and no one is at fault for us being how we are. However it also has the possible implications of a pre-natal being developed to effectively eradicate autism. Which could be considered a form of genocide.

Well, there are many, so I guess I'll just outline which theories are most widely held.

Genetics: You inherit genes, and that's why.
Multi-Genes: It's several genes, and the combination determines what.
Vaccines: It's because of something in a vaccine they inject you with.
Lack of mirror neurons: Uh... You lack mirror neurons, for some reason.
Brain damage: Something happened to your brain.

I think those five are the more widely believed, though of course belief does not equal fact. And, after all, Autism is a highly complex neurobiological occurance, so it's not going to have a simple cause, now will it?