T he challenge wasn’t making an organoid with serotonin-producing cells. It was making only serotonin-producing cells in an organoid model of a brain region that is rife with diverse cell types, all packed in close proximity. “It’s just absolutely overwhelming what happens in the brainstem,” Paşca says. There could be an entire arsenal of neuromodulatory […]
Hundreds of compounds counteract specific behavioral effects of autism-linked gene variants in zebrafish, according to a new study that, its authors say, could guide precision gene-based medicine for some forms of autism. Many new drugs under investigation for the condition prove ineffective in clinical trials—in part because of its genetic and clinical heterogeneity. “A medication […]
Social skills: Tendencies to engage in groom soliciting, solitary play or sitting alone are highly heritable among macaques. Courtesy of Emory University / Marie Collantes Some aspects of rhesus macaques’ social behavior are strongly shaped by genetics, with differences tied to variants in autism-linked genes, according to a new study. The findings may shed light […]
Little lag: Autistic children with language regression begin speaking in phrases at about the same age as those without regression. Pixel Effect / iStock Autistic children who show language regression — a loss of language skills in early childhood — do not necessarily have communication problems later on, a new study finds. In fact, in […]
People with mutations in the PAX5 gene have a distinct neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by a range of traits, including developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures and autism, according to a new study of 16 children and young adults. Until now, genetic testing did not give people with PAX5 mutations clear answers about their development, says lead […]
Stacked effects: A gene mutation and immune stimulation together can render mice less social. Photography by Richard Drury Activating the immune system blunts social behaviors in mice missing a copy of the autism-linked gene SHANK3, according to a new study. But blocking TRPV4, a gene that encodes an ion channel involved in inflammatory responses, can […]
Lack of isolation: Mutations in the MYT1L gene deactivate a transcription factor that is important for myelin-forming cells that coat nerve fibers. Biophoto Associates / Science Source A variety of traits, including developmental delay and intellectual disability, characterize people with mutations in the autism-related MYT1L gene, according to a new study. The gene encodes a […]
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 […]
