Within the 16p region of the genome, the two types of variants similarly decrease neuronal gene expression — an effect that may reflect their spatial relationship.

The study also reveals a link between language development and common variants.

Common variants in five regions of the genome may determine whether someone has one condition versus the other.

Women who carry genetic variants tied to autism have an elevated chance of experiencing pregnancy-related events linked to the condition in their children.

Siblings of autistic females are more likely to have autism than siblings of autistic males are, and mothers of autistic children carry more common, autism-linked variants than fathers do.

Different combinations of common, rare, inherited and spontaneous mutations may explain why traits vary so widely among autistic people.

Neurona Health, a company in San Francisco, California, backed away from part of its newly launched services after Spectrum started reporting about them.

An online database called NyuWa catalogs genetic variations among nearly 3,000 individuals and provides a comprehensive reference genome for the Han people.

A quarter of autistic people carry rare genetic variations linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, but these mutations alone may not be enough to lead to autism.

Common and rare variants in or near autism-associated genes can have opposite effects on cognition.