Genes

Mice lacking one copy of a leading autism gene have hyperexcitable brains and problems with learning and memory.

Tracking how roundworms crawl has enabled scientists to determine that many autism genes are involved in sensory processing and learning.

Scientists used the gene-editing tool CRISPR to create two marmosets lacking MECP2, the gene mutated in Rett syndrome.

Mice lacking one copy of a gene linked to autism are small and show striking changes in the number and quality of their cries.

The largest-ever set of sequences from people with developmental delay has revealed 43 new genetic diagnoses.

Clusters of brain cells — so-called ‘mini-brains’ grown in the lab — may help researchers understand how large stretches of duplicated or deleted DNA affect the brain.

Genes linked to autism in sequencing studies tend be located in long stretches of DNA that are duplicated or missing in some people with developmental conditions.

The largest autism sequencing study to date implicates 99 genes in the condition — but nearly half have a tighter link to intellectual disability or developmental delay.

Autism is more heritable than anorexia, alcohol dependence, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to an analysis of data from nearly 4.5 million people.