In a fix: mice lacking the autism-related gene POGZ have an altered expression of ADNP, which is also associated with autism. The POGZ gene associated with autism, according to a new mouse study, facilitates the accessibility and expression of genes involved in wiring the brain in utero. People with a mutation in POGZ are more […]
Missing myelin: Clearing TBX1 in mice decreases the amount of myelin around axons in several areas of the white matter of the brain. Courtesy of Hiroi Nonaka Mice lacking a copy of TBX1, a gene in the autism-linked 22q11.2 chromosomal region, are producing too little myelin – the fatty insulation that surrounds neurons – and […]
Voice connection: Zebra finches and other birds that learn songs carry mutations near genes that are often mutated in autism. Courtesy Lomax Boyd Genes that appear to play a role in song learning in some birds are often mutated in autistic people, according to a new study. The results show the value of studying the […]
Restoring function: unlike a traditional CRISPR system (left), a new method (right) can delete a section of DNA and replace a missing part of a gene, restoring expression of the gene in the liver of mice (arrows) . Two new methods make it possible to delete long sections of the genome and thus expand the […]
