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Recent articles

Boy staring at fidget spinner

Risk genes for autism overlap with those for attention deficit

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may carry certain rare, harmful mutations in many of the same genes as people with autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
25 November 2019 | 4 min read
Modifier genes may enhance or diminish the effects of a mutation linked to autism.

Second ‘hits’ may explain autism mutations’ varied effects

People who have a mutation linked to autism plus a second genetic glitch tend to have more severe symptoms than those with the mutation alone.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
5 October 2018 | 3 min read

Yeast assay illuminates effects of mutations in top autism gene

Mutations in the gene PTEN that are tied to autism may be less harmful than those linked to a syndrome characterized by benign tumors.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
1 June 2018 | 3 min read
Medical practitioner marking blood sample.

Mosaic mutations in sperm point to increased autism risk

More than 5 percent of mutations thought to have arisen spontaneously in a child with autism may in fact be inherited.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
23 October 2017 | 4 min read
Mother and daughter practicing writing.

Rare autism mutations linked to low intelligence

People with autism who have rare, damaging mutations tend to have low scores on intelligence tests.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
20 October 2017 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Research image of mitochondrial activity in the mouse amygdala and hippocampus.

The fast-expanding repertoire of mitochondria in the brain

More than cellular powerhouses, these organelles also seem to help synapses communicate, support memory formation and even shape behavior.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
3 July 2026 | 7 min read
Two fingers turning a small dial.

When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 5: The war dial

“You have to reshape the whole system.” Tempest McDonald earns a measure of peace.

By Brady Huggett
2 July 2026 | 42 min listen
Red note stuck in a stack of paper.

Scientists decry conference’s use of hidden prompts to snare AI peer reviews

The invisible messages, which instruct large language models to use telltale phrases in a peer-review report, are effective in catching artificial-intelligence misuse but also erode trust, some say.

By Dalmeet Singh Chawla
1 July 2026 | 4 min read