Research roundup

• Duplications or deletions of the gene KDM4C appear to be linked to autism and schizophrenia. Translational Psychiatry
• Autistic children with social-communication problems and repetitive behaviors have an elevated likelihood of also having motor impairments. Autism Research
• Women who have preeclampsia during pregnancy have an increased chance of having an autistic child. Current Opinion in Psychiatry
• A light-sensitive molecule enables researchers to mute signals relayed through certain types of glycine receptors in mouse brains. eNeuro
• For people with developmental disabilities, the risk of contracting or dying from COVID-19 may depend on their residential setting. Disability and Health Journal
• When throwing a ball, autistic adults tend to wind up more than non-autistic adults, according to a small study. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly

Science and society

• The U.S.-based National Fragile X Foundation has launched a registry for adults with the fragile X premutation to make it easier for them to contribute to research and participate in clinical trials. Fragile X News Today
• The U.S. National Institutes of Health ‘All of Us’ project, which sequences genomes from U.S. residents, has begun sending genetic information back to participants. National Institutes of Health
• The European Commission may soon be the largest funder to require sex and gender analyses in research studies. Nature
• The Autism Society of America has joined with other disability organizations to call for people with developmental disabilities to be prioritized for getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Autism Society
• A new program aims to develop better medical-school training on the needs of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Disability Scoop