Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

topic /

Genes

Rare or common, inherited or spontaneous, mutations form the core of autism risk.

May 2021

Q&A with Sébastien Jacquemont and Clara Moreau: Why brain imaging signatures for autism are so elusive

by  /  20 May 2021

The field of neuroimaging will need to combine two strategies before it can find patterns of brain activity or structure unique to autism, the researchers say.

Comments
Microglia activity seen in red, green and blue.

Autism mutation may cause big brain via ‘don’t eat me’ signals

by  /  17 May 2021

An autism-linked mutation could make the brain grow unusually large by prompting cells to express a chemical signal better known for its connection to cancer.

Comments

Autism-linked protein screen reveals hundreds of new interactions

by  /  14 May 2021

Researchers have uncovered more than 1,200 new protein-protein interactions involving proteins coded for by autism-linked genes.

Comments
Teen girl up at night, looking at her computer.

Childhood autism traits linked to hypomania in adolescence

by  /  10 May 2021

Children with autism traits tend to show agitation, excitability, decreased sleep and other mild signs of mania in adolescence; the association is higher in identical twins than fraternal twins, suggesting that genetics plays a role.

Comments

Genes tied to autism, developmental delay, schizophrenia share functions

by  /  7 May 2021

Many genes linked to autism, schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental delay regulate gene expression and support communication between neurons.

Comments
Neurons in red and green

‘Neurons on a chip’ reveal patterns across autism-linked conditions

by  /  7 May 2021

Activity patterns of neuronal networks link different genetic subtypes of autism that have similar traits, according to new unpublished research.

Comments
Computer screenshot showing bands of colour resulting from sequenced DNA.

Largest autism genetics analysis to date uncovers more high-confidence candidates

by  /  6 May 2021

The largest-yet study of genetic data from autistic people has identified 255 genes associated with the condition.

Comments
Chart compiling the deletions and duplications linked to various neurodevelopmental traits.

Massive analysis scores genes’ sensitivity to mutations

by  /  5 May 2021

Researchers have rated more than 17,000 genes, including many linked to autism and other neuropsychiatric conditions, according to their sensitivity to deletions and duplications.

Comments
Computer screen reflection in spectacles of DNA profile, close up of face

New ranking system flags clinically relevant ‘autism genes’

by  /  5 May 2021

A novel method to evaluate the strength of the evidence linking autism to specific genes could reveal which ones are most useful to screen for.

Comments
Mouse gut cells in blue, purple and pink

Loss of top autism-linked gene from gut alters behavior in mice

by  /  4 May 2021

Deleting CHD8 from the intestines induces gastrointestinal and behavioral changes in mice that resemble traits in people with mutations in the gene.

Comments