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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: neurogenesis

September 2023
Research image of organoids in the forebrain.

Head size parts autism into two major subtypes

by  /  12 September 2023

An imbalance in the number of excitatory neurons in early brain development may account for the difference.

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May 2023
Composite research image of organoids at several stages of development.

Genetic background sways effects of autism-linked mutation

by  /  18 May 2023

Experiments offer clues to why certain mutations are associated with autism in some people and not others.

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April 2023
Research image of the blood-brain barrier.

Rare autism-linked mutation starves growing neurons of essential nutrients

by  /  10 April 2023

The mutation prevents certain amino acids from entering neurons, causing the cells to die early in development.

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Research image of radial glial cells in a human brain organoid.

Immune molecule alters cellular makeup of human brain organoids

by  /  5 April 2023

The changes may help explain the link between maternal infection and autism, though more research is needed.

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February 2023
Research image shows elevated expression of certain genes, shown in pink and green, along with expected gene expression, shown in blue.

Autism-linked MYT1L mutations prompt ‘identity crisis’ in budding brain cells

by  /  14 February 2023

Both human and mouse progenitor cells with the alterations struggle to become neurons and instead express genes that are typically active only in muscle or the heart.

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Research image comparing neurons that lack the ZFP462 gene to wildtype neurons.

Autism-tied gene ZNF462 keeps developing neurons on track

by  /  1 February 2023

The gene, linked to a little-known condition called Weiss-Kruszka syndrome, prevents embryonic stem cells from deviating from their neuronal destiny.

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October 2022
Image of a synthetic mouse embryo.

Lab-grown ‘embryoids’ offer new window into gene-trait relationships

by  /  26 October 2022

The developmental models have advantages over natural embryos and other synthetic models, such as organoids, but present technical and ethical challenges.

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