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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: rare variants

January 2020
Brain MRIs showing injured blood vessels

Study ties gene active in developing brain to autism

by  /  6 January 2020

Mutations in a gene called ZNF292 lead to a variety of developmental conditions, including autism and intellectual disability.

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December 2019
Illustration shows boy with bag of oranges, in landscape of food with DNA trailing around him

Diets may help autistic children with certain genetic profiles

by ,  /  17 December 2019

No diet is likely to treat autistic people on a large scale, but diets based on a genetic profile may bring big benefits to a few.

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November 2019
Boy staring at fidget spinner

Risk genes for autism overlap with those for attention deficit

by  /  25 November 2019

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may carry certain rare, harmful mutations in many of the same genes as people with autism.

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Strand of DNA with bases being deleted

Autism-linked gene variants increase odds of attention deficit

by  /  18 November 2019

A collection of rare genetic variants associated with autism and schizophrenia also seem to increase a person’s odds of having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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September 2019

DNA deletion boosts odds of autism, especially in girls

by  /  2 September 2019

The loss of 21 genes on chromosome 3 may substantially raise the risk of autism.

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May 2019
Computational Modeling of BRSK2 Missense Variants

Matchmaking site for genes leads scientists to autism candidate

by  /  6 May 2019

A website called GeneMatcher has helped researchers identify a new gene for intellectual disability, developmental delay and autism.

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Image of DNA made up of hundreds of tiny images in a mosaic effect.

New algorithm identifies rare mutations in single neurons

by  /  3 May 2019

A new computational method sifts true mutations from spurious ones in a single cell’s genome.

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The female protective effect, explained

by  /  1 May 2019

One of the leading theories of autism posits that girls and women are biologically protected from the condition.

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March 2019
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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January 2019
Portrait of boy with autism

Why genetic tests matter for autistic people

by  /  30 January 2019

Genetic tests for people with autism are far from routine and don’t always yield results, but the information they offer can change lives.

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