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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: common variants

May 2017

Novel approach digs up drugs that can do double duty

by  /  26 May 2017

A new method uses genetic clues to uncover new uses for existing medications.

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Complex gene interactions in autism offer avenues for treatment

by  /  23 May 2017

Teasing out how genes interact can offer clues to autism’s causes and point to treatment targets.

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Common variants, rare mutations combine to shape autism risk

by  /  15 May 2017

Children with autism inherit a greater burden of common genetic variants associated with autism than would be expected by chance. These variants combine with rare, spontaneous mutations to boost autism risk.

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What makes a gene an autism candidate? Not everyone agrees

by  /  11 May 2017

Whether a gene should be considered a ‘novel candidate’ for autism depends not just on whether it’s been linked to the condition before, but on the strength of that link.

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January 2017
A surreal portrait of doctors walking out on vibrant tree-limbs, as it were. This represents doctors exploring novel pathways in cancer research.

The curious connection between autism and cancer

by  /  11 January 2017

A surprising number of genes associated with autism also have links to cancer. Does that mean cancer drugs can treat autism?

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November 2016
An illustration of two grandmothers conversing in front of a genealogical tree, suggesting ancestry and a history of autism in the family.

What grandmothers can teach scientists about autism’s inheritance

by  /  9 November 2016

Women who have raised a child with autism may be well-positioned to spot subtle signs of the condition in their grandchildren. A new study puts their powers to good use.

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Large postmortem brain study unearths clues to schizophrenia

by  /  3 November 2016

A massive collection of brain tissue reveals common genetic variants that influence gene expression in the brain.

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October 2016
Hispanic family taking a selfie

Rare look at Hispanic families confirms autism’s genetic pattern

by  /  20 October 2016

One of the first studies to explore Hispanic families with a history of autism reveals that parents of children with the condition show some autism features themselves.

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August 2016
Week of AugustAug
1st
2016

Testosterone test; enhancement stance; retirement pan

by  /  5 August 2016

A new study casts doubt on the ‘extreme male brain’ theory of autism, Americans are worried about gene editing, and a Pasteur Institute clash raises questions about scientists’ age.

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Questions for McCarroll, Stevens: How immune cells sculpt brains

by  /  2 August 2016

Genetic variants that impair a pathway that prunes neuronal connections may offer clues to autism.

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