Genetics
Recent articles
‘These plans are simply not acceptable’: Q&A with Helen Tager-Flusberg
Last week, Tager-Flusberg formed the Coalition of Autism Scientists to push back on the U.S. government’s plans for autism research, as described by Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. The coalition already has 220 members.

‘These plans are simply not acceptable’: Q&A with Helen Tager-Flusberg
Last week, Tager-Flusberg formed the Coalition of Autism Scientists to push back on the U.S. government’s plans for autism research, as described by Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. The coalition already has 220 members.
Why hasn’t genetics taught us more about schizophrenia?
Large-scale genomics studies have failed to identify specific pathways that go awry in schizophrenia. Alternative approaches focusing on cellular, molecular and systems-level changes may be needed.

Why hasn’t genetics taught us more about schizophrenia?
Large-scale genomics studies have failed to identify specific pathways that go awry in schizophrenia. Alternative approaches focusing on cellular, molecular and systems-level changes may be needed.
Huntington’s disease gene variants past a certain size poison select cells
The findings—providing “the next step in the whole pathway”—help explain the disease’s late onset and offer hope that it has an extended therapeutic window.

Huntington’s disease gene variants past a certain size poison select cells
The findings—providing “the next step in the whole pathway”—help explain the disease’s late onset and offer hope that it has an extended therapeutic window.
Meet the ‘mitomaniacs’ who say mitochondria matter in autism
Clues that problems with mitochondria contribute to autism have been accumulating for decades. In the past five years, a mutant mouse and a flurry of findings have energized the field.

Meet the ‘mitomaniacs’ who say mitochondria matter in autism
Clues that problems with mitochondria contribute to autism have been accumulating for decades. In the past five years, a mutant mouse and a flurry of findings have energized the field.
The blurred line between autism and intellectual disability
Doctors often conflate autism and intellectual disability, and no wonder: The biological distinction between them is murky. Scientific progress depends on knowing where the conditions intersect — and part ways.

The blurred line between autism and intellectual disability
Doctors often conflate autism and intellectual disability, and no wonder: The biological distinction between them is murky. Scientific progress depends on knowing where the conditions intersect — and part ways.
Spotted around the web: Gut microbiome, oxytocin treatment, hippocampus development
Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 27 January.
Spotted around the web: Gut microbiome, oxytocin treatment, hippocampus development
Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 27 January.
Notable papers in autism research in 2019
This year’s top papers deepen our understanding of autism’s genetics and reveal mixed results from trials of autism therapies.

Notable papers in autism research in 2019
This year’s top papers deepen our understanding of autism’s genetics and reveal mixed results from trials of autism therapies.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Human brain may anticipate looming contagion
Seeing a visibly ill avatar in virtual reality activates a neuroimmune pathway in brain areas related to peripersonal space and prompts an immune response, a small new study suggests.

Human brain may anticipate looming contagion
Seeing a visibly ill avatar in virtual reality activates a neuroimmune pathway in brain areas related to peripersonal space and prompts an immune response, a small new study suggests.
What U.S. science stands to lose without international graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Neuroscience in other countries will strengthen—at the United States’ expense—as rising visa restrictions and rejections block many international students from enrolling at U.S. institutions and dissuade others from applying.

What U.S. science stands to lose without international graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Neuroscience in other countries will strengthen—at the United States’ expense—as rising visa restrictions and rejections block many international students from enrolling at U.S. institutions and dissuade others from applying.
New dopamine sensor powers three-color imaging in live animals
The tool leverages a previously unused segment of the color spectrum to track the neurotransmitter and can be used with two additional sensors to monitor other neurochemicals at different wavelengths.

New dopamine sensor powers three-color imaging in live animals
The tool leverages a previously unused segment of the color spectrum to track the neurotransmitter and can be used with two additional sensors to monitor other neurochemicals at different wavelengths.