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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: common variants

January 2020
Young man in textured space, environmental factors and genes swarm in and around him

Autism heritability: It probably does not mean what you think it means

by  /  7 January 2020

The question of autism’s heritability is compelling for researchers and laypeople alike, but many people in both groups misunderstand its definition.

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December 2019

Notable papers in autism research in 2019

by  /  23 December 2019

This year’s top papers deepen our understanding of autism’s genetics and reveal mixed results from trials of autism therapies.

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November 2019

Study links large set of common genes to brain structure

by  /  29 November 2019

A new analysis of nearly 40,000 people pinpoints 48 genetic variants that may determine the volume of certain brain areas.

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July 2019
Family together in kitchen, showing three generations

Majority of autism risk resides in genes, multinational study suggests

by  /  17 July 2019

About 81 percent of autism risk comes from inherited genetic factors, according to an analysis of more than 2 million children from five countries.

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New approach aids search for genetic roots of complex conditions

by  /  5 July 2019

A new method enables researchers to test algorithms for spotting genes that contribute to a trait or condition.

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May 2019
Man and woman portraits on a 'family tree'

What the ‘broad spectrum’ can teach us about autism

by  /  15 May 2019

The relatives of autistic people often have mild traits of the condition. Studying these family members could broaden our understanding of autism.

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A mother taking her two children to school

Genetic background may alter effect of autism mutations

by  /  4 May 2019

A person’s genetic makeup can ease or worsen the effect of mutations linked to autism.

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A DNA helix showing common and rare variants

The multiple hits theory of autism, explained

by  /  1 May 2019

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

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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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Spectrum stories podcast logo.

Spectrum Stories: The benefits of genetic testing in autism

by  /  18 March 2019

Finding a mutation linked to autism traits can have life-changing consequences for autistic individuals and their families.

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