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Spectrum: Autism Research News

WEEK OF
June 24th

Research roundup

  • Differences in a brain region involved in visual perception could also underlie restricted and repetitive behaviors in autism. Journal of Neuroscience
  • Recessive mutations are rare, yet they contribute to 5 percent of all autism cases. Nature Genetics
  • Researchers have identified genetic differences underlying diagnostic subgroups of autism. Nature Genetics
  • Difficulty with empathy in some people with autism is not related to problems in emotional self-awareness. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Science and society

  • The dean of King’s College in Cambridge, England, apologized to a family who was asked to leave a church service at the college because their autistic boy was making noise. The Guardian
  • An autistic writer speaks out against ‘cures’ for autism and the anti-vaccination movement. Vox
  • Many traits associated with autism can be viewed as strengths. Scientific American
  • The U.S. National Institutes of Health intends to strengthen its sexual harassment policies. Science
  • A global survey on vaccine safety reveals that trust in institutions is as important as trust in science. The Guardian
  • Leaders of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine and a World Health Organization advisory committee on gene editing say there’s no clear way to regulate gene editing in all countries. STAT
  • The United Kingdom’s Harwell Institute, which includes a prominent genetics research center, is facing closure. The Guardian
  • A new book explores the layers of racism in scientific constructs of race. Nature

Autism and the arts

  • A documentary film chronicles 17 Icelandic women with autism. IMDb
  • A nonverbal autistic artist will have his work featured at a Boston gallery next month. CBS Boston

Job moves

  • Autism researcher Eilidh Cage has announced her move to Scotland’s University of Stirling, scheduled for 2020. Twitter
  • Developmental neuroscientist Meghan Swanson has set up her new laboratory at the University of Texas at Dallas. Baby Brain Lab