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Emerging tools and techniques that may advance autism research.

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March 2019

New maps plot hot spots of diversity across human genome

by  /  29 March 2019

A pair of maps that depict variation in the human genome may help reveal the genetic roots of autism.

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Microscope image of microbes.

Genome catalog bolsters global microbiome research

by  /  22 March 2019

The largest-yet attempt to characterize the global diversity of the human microbiome — the population of microbes that live in our bodies — has found 4,930 species, 77 percent of which were previously unknown.

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Human brain tissue

Autism brain bank doubles amount of available tissue

by  /  15 March 2019

Autism BrainNet, a repository of postmortem brains, has new tissue from more than 150 brains, including 59 from people with confirmed or possible autism.

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Three views of a lab monkey

Mutant monkey clones could aid study of autism

by  /  8 March 2019

Scientists have created five monkey clones, all carrying an edit to a specific gene.

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Sophisticated software makes sense of rodent squeaks

by  /  1 March 2019

New artificial-intelligence software detects and analyzes the ultrasonic squeaks and cries that constitute inaudible rodent language.

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February 2019
Rat brain shows implant outline.

New electrode array records brain activity in rats for months

by  /  22 February 2019

A flexible electrode array can record the firing of hundreds of rat neurons for months on end.

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head mold shown in two pieces

Stabilizing head mold leads to sharper brain images

by  /  15 February 2019

A customizable Styrofoam mold minimizes head movements during brain scans, enabling researchers to produce clearer images.

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Child walking with sensors on in motion capture test.

Walking in virtual environment may reveal unique autism gait

by  /  8 February 2019

A two-belt treadmill attached to a specialized display suggests that people with autism have a distinct walking style.

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Lab-grown placentas, cell atlas may aid study of early pregnancy

by  /  1 February 2019

A cell atlas and a cell-culture method promise to advance scientists’ understanding of the placenta and its effects on a fetus.

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January 2019
a series of brain images

New brain maps hint at cerebellum’s role in cognition, language

by  /  25 January 2019

A new analysis of brain scans highlights variations in the cerebellum, a brain area implicated in autism.

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