Autism in our Genes?

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It's not 'switches in the brain' that are being proposed as switched off, but rather that genes directing/influencing brain growth/development are not 'switching on'.

Individual genes are not consistently and pervasively active. As we go through stages of development for instance different genes need to become active while being dormant at other times. This causes puberty to typically happen to ending childhood/nearing-adult persons rather than to 2 or 92 year old persons (for instance).

What is being suggested (in the article) is that genes necessary for typical neurological development/growth may not be 'switching' from inactive to active in some persons (for instance autistic ones) resulting in a structurally and/or biochemically atypical brain. It's not that switches in the brain are turned off, but rather that because certain genes are not switching on, typical brain development/growth is not occurring, resulting in atypical brains with subsequent atypical brain/cognitive function.

Hmm, that still doesn't explain why we have a different set of abilities so to speak.
If it was all about slow development and us not being able to do things we should, that would make sense, but that's not usually the entire picture. Maybe they only found, or think they found, a small piece of it perhaps.

It's not all about slow development. It's about genes not activating, and timing matters.

Neuro-development is not simply growth. It entails 'pruning' at appropriate times as well. Genes turn on and off during development to instruct both reduction and expansion in particular brain structures. Further the brain is adaptive and especially so when young. If some process is not coming on-line to utilize its share of resources, and further to do its share of work, other processes will have extra resources available, and a deficit to make up. Equally if some gene doesnt activate to prune an area appropriate to the developmental stage, it may block growth/development/function in other areas, or simply create excess activity that interferes with global neuro-activity.

The brain's development, while plastic, does need to follow a certain 'plan' or sequence, both internally and relative to the rest of the organism's development. Even if all genes switch-on, non-typical timing can still result in non-typical outcomes.

(sorry I'm not better at explaining things... )