Bioinformatics
Recent articles
Simply making data publicly available isn’t enough. We need to make it easy — that requires community buy-in.
I helped create a standard to make it easy to upload, analyze and compare functional MRI data. An ecosystem of tools has since grown up around it, boosting reproducibility and speeding up research.

Simply making data publicly available isn’t enough. We need to make it easy — that requires community buy-in.
I helped create a standard to make it easy to upload, analyze and compare functional MRI data. An ecosystem of tools has since grown up around it, boosting reproducibility and speeding up research.
Gut microbiome meta-analysis reveals consistent autism signal
But the field needs to move on from cross-sectional studies to gain insights into the causes and consequences of the association, experts say.

Gut microbiome meta-analysis reveals consistent autism signal
But the field needs to move on from cross-sectional studies to gain insights into the causes and consequences of the association, experts say.
Chromatin remodeling tied to altered splicing in autism model
Exposing neurons to valproic acid, a well-known environmental risk factor for autism, disrupts their ability to generate different proteins from the same gene.

Chromatin remodeling tied to altered splicing in autism model
Exposing neurons to valproic acid, a well-known environmental risk factor for autism, disrupts their ability to generate different proteins from the same gene.
Africa’s genomic role: Q&A with Conrad Iyegbe and Niran Okewole
Psychiatric genomics promises to shed light on the genetic basis of autism, but it’s vital to include Africa in this research, Iyegbe and Okewole say.

Africa’s genomic role: Q&A with Conrad Iyegbe and Niran Okewole
Psychiatric genomics promises to shed light on the genetic basis of autism, but it’s vital to include Africa in this research, Iyegbe and Okewole say.
‘Dosage sensitivity map’ predicts active ingredients in copy number variants
The catalog of rare copy number variants tied to autism and other conditions could help researchers identify which genes account for the mutations’ effects.

‘Dosage sensitivity map’ predicts active ingredients in copy number variants
The catalog of rare copy number variants tied to autism and other conditions could help researchers identify which genes account for the mutations’ effects.
Lumping versus splitting with autism-linked variants: A conversation with Vanessa Vogel-Farley and Yssa DeWoody
Researchers have long studied subgroups of people who share genetic variants, but the newly formed ‘CNV Commission’ is also looking at people with shared traits across different neurodevelopmental conditions.

Lumping versus splitting with autism-linked variants: A conversation with Vanessa Vogel-Farley and Yssa DeWoody
Researchers have long studied subgroups of people who share genetic variants, but the newly formed ‘CNV Commission’ is also looking at people with shared traits across different neurodevelopmental conditions.
Meet the company trying precision medicine for autism
Swiss biotech Stalicla hopes to bring precision medicine to autism. Experts praise efforts to identify autism subgroups, but evidence to support the company’s claims has yet to be seen.

Meet the company trying precision medicine for autism
Swiss biotech Stalicla hopes to bring precision medicine to autism. Experts praise efforts to identify autism subgroups, but evidence to support the company’s claims has yet to be seen.
Alternate RNA versions of genes may shape autism
Autism may involve different levels of RNA isoforms encoded by genes in the brain, which express many more proteins than previously thought.

Alternate RNA versions of genes may shape autism
Autism may involve different levels of RNA isoforms encoded by genes in the brain, which express many more proteins than previously thought.
Protein atlas doubles number of known interactions in mice
Thousands of protein-protein interactions mapped in mice reveal how these networks shift across seven kinds of tissue.

Protein atlas doubles number of known interactions in mice
Thousands of protein-protein interactions mapped in mice reveal how these networks shift across seven kinds of tissue.
Ultra-rare variants point to new autism candidate genes
A large, whole-genome sequencing study of families yields insights into ultra-rare genetic variants that contribute to autism.

Ultra-rare variants point to new autism candidate genes
A large, whole-genome sequencing study of families yields insights into ultra-rare genetic variants that contribute to autism.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.

Autism-linked copy number variants always boost autism likelihood
By contrast, varied doses of the same genes decrease or increase the odds of five other conditions, with distinct biological consequences, two new preprints show.
Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.

Everything everywhere all at once: Decision-making signals engage entire brain
The findings, gleaned from the most comprehensive map yet of brain activity during decision-making in mice, show that the process is even more distributed than previously thought.
Astrocyte networks span large swaths of brain
The networks are plastic, connect brain regions that aren’t connected by neurons and may enable long-distance communication between astrocytes, a new preprint shows.
Astrocyte networks span large swaths of brain
The networks are plastic, connect brain regions that aren’t connected by neurons and may enable long-distance communication between astrocytes, a new preprint shows.