Two new analyses help to explain why mutations to the chromosomal region 16p11.2 can lead to autism, intellectual disability or language difficulties.

Extra copies of a gene called BOLA2 predispose people to autism and may protect against iron deficiency.

A collection of rare genetic variants associated with autism and schizophrenia also seem to increase a person’s odds of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Children with autism who carry mutations in the chromosomal region 16p11.2 or the gene CHD8 — two of the leading risk factors for autism — show distinct patterns of chemical tags on their DNA.

Researchers are studying how a combination of genetic ‘hits’ may contribute to autism’s diversity.

No genetic test can say whether a person has autism, but it may point to a cause for the condition or for any related complications.

Autism may be just as common among children missing a segment of chromosome 16 as it is in those with an extra copy.

A cellular pathway that helps neurons grow and move during fetal development may drive the changes in head size in some autistic people.

Mice with an autism-linked deletion in chromosome 16 show abnormalities in their blood vessels and circulation.

Clusters of brain cells — so-called ‘mini-brains’ grown in the lab — may help researchers understand how large stretches of duplicated or deleted DNA affect the brain.