ROBO1 and Obesity: For example, variation in ROBO1 is associated with language ability[30] and shared genetic factors between asthma and obesity in children.[31] A prior study shows that ROBO1 is also associated with autism, showing that mRNA expression is significantly down-regulated in those with autism.[32] Furthermore, a role for Robo1 expression in retinal angiogenesis has been demonstrated in a rabbit model of proliferative retinopathy as well as in vitro studies of epiretinal and subretinal membranes from patients with proliferative retinopathies.[25]