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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Science & Society

From funding decisions to scientific fraud, a wide range of societal factors shape autism research.

December 2022
Gavin Rumbaugh stands on a beach with his family: his wife, dog and child.

Beyond the bench: Finding balance with Gavin Rumbaugh

by  /  15 December 2022

Rumbaugh, who studies how the autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 shapes brain development, describes how he has embraced coastal living and which aspects of his career he wouldn’t do over.

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An illustration of doctors examining a larger-than-life DNA strand

Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism

by  /  12 December 2022

A massive update to the MSSNG dataset gives qualified researchers ready access to explore autism’s genetic architecture on a cloud-based platform.

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Speech bubble formed by a network of communication

Community Newsletter: Autism biomarkers; language preferences; octopus brain atlas

by  /  11 December 2022

This week, Twitter provided a discussion about autism biomarkers, a survey revealing language preferences, and a peek inside the octopus brain.

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Week of DecemberDec
5th
2022

Spotted around the web: Cannabinoid gel; fragile X syndrome subtypes; neurodivergent scientists

by ,  /  9 December 2022

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 5 December.

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Illustration shows a road going into the distance, seen from the driver's point of view.

Spectrum Launch: Carving out vacation time as an early-career researcher

by  /  8 December 2022

Early-career researchers talk about the challenges around taking time off, and a new study shows that young scientists tend to be more innovative than their older colleagues.

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A map of England displaying autism incidence.

Autism incidence in England varies by ethnicity, class, location

by  /  6 December 2022

High rates of autism are linked to lower socioeconomic status and minority ethnic groups, according to the largest-ever autism incidence study.

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Many mouths making conversation, with speech bubbles in red and blue.

Community Newsletter: Sex bias; synapse formation; gene convergence

by  /  4 December 2022

Three threads on autism-related research snared the attention of neuroscientists on Twitter this week.

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Week of NovemberNov
28th
2022

Spotted around the web: Protein ubiquitination; meninges immunity; scientific image problems

Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 28 November.

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November 2022
Image displaying impeded interneuron development.

‘Assembloids’ lay bare autism-linked genes that hamper neuron development

by  /  30 November 2022

The model enables the study of autism-linked genes at the earliest stages of neural development.

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Helen Willsey in her lab at the University of California, San Francisco.

How Helen Willsey broke new ground, frogs in hand

by  /  29 November 2022

A young researcher faces down the skeptics.

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