SFARI Gene

Recent articles

Cell ‘antennae’ link autism, congenital heart disease

Variants in genes tied to both conditions derail the formation of cilia, the tiny hair-like structure found on almost every cell in the body, a new study finds.

By Lauren Schenkman
24 July 2025 | 4 min listen
Research image of gene expression.

Sequencing study spotlights tight web of genes tied to autism

The findings, shared in a preprint, help to illuminate how a large and heterogeneous group of genes could be involved in autism.

By Katie Moisse
13 March 2025 | 5 min read
A brown mouse looks away from a white mouse in a cage to its left.

‘VIP’ interneurons may drive autism traits in Dravet syndrome

The inhibitory cells misfire and contribute to social difficulties in mice that model the syndrome.

By Lauren Schenkman
19 July 2023 | 6 min read

Plethora of protein-making machines in neurons may underlie fragile X

An overabundance of ribosomes drives an imbalance of proteins produced from long and short genetic transcripts in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

By Chloe Williams
21 July 2022 | 6 min read
researchers analyzing a big change in a DNA helix

Evolutionary approach reveals impact of missense variants in autism

Cross-species comparisons can help make sense of subtle genetic variants in people with autism and identify hundreds of new genes that may contribute to the condition.

By Chloe Williams
7 July 2021 | 5 min read
Computer screen reflection in spectacles of DNA profile, close up of face

New ranking system flags clinically relevant ‘autism genes’

A novel method to evaluate the strength of the evidence linking autism to specific genes could reveal which ones are most useful to screen for.

By Grace Huckins
5 May 2021 | 3 min read

‘Antisocial’ bees point to ancient roots for some autism genes

Honey bees that fail certain social tests have genetic profiles similar to those of people with autism.

By Hannah Furfaro, Jessica Wright
19 September 2017 | 5 min read

Family groups play key role in advancing autism research

Families need more support from researchers in order for their heroic efforts to be optimally effective.

By Stephan J. Sanders
27 June 2017 | 6 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Control centers for genes rife with autism-linked DNA blips

DNA sequences called enhancers — which boost the expression of genes from within or outside them — are enriched for genetic variants linked to autism, suggests a new study. The finding may help researchers understand how variants outside genes contribute to autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
3 August 2015 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Gene networks offer entry point to unraveling autism

By mapping the connections between autism genes, researchers are finding clues to the disorder’s origins. The key, they say, is to begin without bias.

By Jessica Wright
26 February 2015 | 5 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Brain scan with visual noise and glitch effects.

Authors retract Science paper on controversial fMRI method

Several known but usually negligible MRI artifacts contribute to the neuronal activity signal picked up by the method, according to a preprint the authors posted earlier this month.

By Calli McMurray
25 September 2025 | 6 min read
Portrait photograph of Dame Stephanie Shirley.

In memoriam: Stephanie “Steve” Shirley, autism philanthropist

Fueled by business success and her son, she played an outsized role in British autism research.

By Lauren Schneider
25 September 2025 | 6 min read

Ann Kennedy explains the theoretical neuroscience of survival behaviors

The Scripps neuroscientist calls for a broader theoretical neuroscience approach in her area of research, which focuses on how the subcortex bridges life and cognition.

By Paul Middlebrooks
24 September 2025 | 1 min read

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