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.
Mapping the effects of autism mutations on mouse brain circuits may reveal subtypes of the condition in people.
The absence of several interacting genes may underlie the developmental problems seen in people missing a segment of chromosome 16.
Boosting the levels of the chemical messenger serotonin makes mice that model autism more social — and brings new hope to a shelved theory in autism.