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Emerging tools and techniques that may advance autism research.

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June 2018

Videos reveal cells moving in live animals

by  /  15 June 2018

A combination of two microscope techniques enables researchers to record detailed 3-D videos of cells and their structures inside living animals.

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New technique scales up ability to find DNA tags in genomes

by  /  8 June 2018

A new method helps researchers map the patterns of chemical tags in large batches of cells.

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Baby chick on white background.

Chick model of epilepsy-drug exposure may mimic signs of autism

by  /  1 June 2018

Exposing fertilized chicken eggs to valproic acid, an epilepsy drug, yields chicks with apparent social deficits.

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May 2018
Various colored mouse brain sections.

Imaging approaches expand view into brain’s complexity

by  /  25 May 2018

Four new imaging techniques published over the past few months enable researchers to easily visualize cells and other features in tissue slices and living brains.

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Visualization of networks of individual neurons in the brain.

New map reveals web of connections from single neurons

by  /  18 May 2018

A new map reveals the routes of individual neurons in visual regions of the mouse brain.

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Wearable device accurately scans brains in moving people

by  /  4 May 2018

A new neuroimaging device that is worn like a helmet enables researchers to map the functional activity of a person’s brain as she moves her head.

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April 2018
scientific illustration of protein mutations

Web-based tools reveal mutations’ effects on proteins

by  /  27 April 2018

Two new online resources help researchers predict how mutations alter protein structure.

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genetic code sequences

Map of DNA variation identifies key genetic regions

by  /  20 April 2018

A new analysis of the genomes of more than 11,000 people reveals regions that have few mutations, indicating they have important functions.

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scans of a mouse brain with highlighted regions

Active neurons emit visible glow from depths of animal brains

by  /  13 April 2018

Modified versions of molecules found in fireflies make brain cells glow so brightly they are visible from outside the body.

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A silicon nanowire touches the membrane of a rat neuron.

Silicon nanowires stimulate neurons with light

by  /  6 April 2018

Microscopic silicon wires could enable scientists to excite neurons with light without first inserting genes into them.

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