Memories from Diering’s life trace the rising star’s scientific path from raising lizards as a child and later exploring home brewing to heading a lab that investigates memory, sleep disturbances and early development in animals with autism-linked mutations.

Non-neuronal brain cells called astrocytes secrete proteins that seem to hamper the growth of neurons in people with autism-related syndromes. These proteins could be new drug targets, Allen says.

The technique involves editing the cellular instructions to make MECP2 protein and partially restores its levels in the brainstem.

Long cast in supporting roles in the brain, astrocytes are now emerging as primary players in certain characteristics of autism and related conditions.

Doctors can prescribe it, but evidence that ketamine eases autism traits is still preliminary.

The animals recall fear more readily if a set of inhibitory neurons in the hippocampus is switched on.

The new animal line could accelerate the discovery of gene-activating therapies for the autism-linked condition Rett syndrome.

Mutations in a newly identified protein complex that interacts with the Rett protein also lead to a Rett-like condition in mice, researchers say.

The Rett Syndrome Global Registry is gathering data from people around the world with the rare condition to support clinical trials.

A basic scientist at heart, Hollis Cline has spent decades pushing the boundaries of what researchers can see in the brain. Her persistence has led to a deeper understanding of how some autism-linked genes influence brain development.