Stem cells
Recent articles
In vivo veritas: Xenotransplantation can help us study the development and function of human neurons in a living brain
Transplanted cells offer insight into human-specific properties, such as a lengthy cortical development and sensitivity to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease.

In vivo veritas: Xenotransplantation can help us study the development and function of human neurons in a living brain
Transplanted cells offer insight into human-specific properties, such as a lengthy cortical development and sensitivity to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease.
Organoids and assembloids offer a new window into human brain
These sophisticated 3D cultures reveal previously inaccessible stages of human brain development and enable the systematic study of disease genes.

Organoids and assembloids offer a new window into human brain
These sophisticated 3D cultures reveal previously inaccessible stages of human brain development and enable the systematic study of disease genes.
Impaired molecular ‘chaperone’ accompanies multiple brain changes, conditions
Rare genetic variants in a protein-folding complex contribute to a spectrum of phenotypes that encompass brain malformations, intellectual disability, autism and seizures, according to a new “hallmark” study.

Impaired molecular ‘chaperone’ accompanies multiple brain changes, conditions
Rare genetic variants in a protein-folding complex contribute to a spectrum of phenotypes that encompass brain malformations, intellectual disability, autism and seizures, according to a new “hallmark” study.
Brain organoid size matches intensity of social problems in autistic people
Overgrown organoids could point to mechanisms underlying profound autism.

Brain organoid size matches intensity of social problems in autistic people
Overgrown organoids could point to mechanisms underlying profound autism.
Autism subgroups converge on cell growth pathway
Faulty mTOR signaling, implicated in syndromic forms of autism, also hinders cells grown from people with idiopathic autism or autism-linked deletions on chromosome 16.

Autism subgroups converge on cell growth pathway
Faulty mTOR signaling, implicated in syndromic forms of autism, also hinders cells grown from people with idiopathic autism or autism-linked deletions on chromosome 16.
Building a brain: How does it generate its exquisite diversity of cells?
High-throughput technologies have revealed new insights into how the brain develops. But a truly comprehensive map of neurodevelopment requires further advances.

Building a brain: How does it generate its exquisite diversity of cells?
High-throughput technologies have revealed new insights into how the brain develops. But a truly comprehensive map of neurodevelopment requires further advances.
Raising the bar for stem cell research: Q&A with Jack Mosher
New quality benchmarks for basic research involving stem cells promise to improve rigor and reproducibility, says Mosher, who helped develop the standards.

Raising the bar for stem cell research: Q&A with Jack Mosher
New quality benchmarks for basic research involving stem cells promise to improve rigor and reproducibility, says Mosher, who helped develop the standards.
Autism’s ties to the cell skeleton
Many genes related to the condition play a role in the internal scaffolding of cells, and cytoskeletal disruptions can affect neurodevelopment and behavior.
Autism’s ties to the cell skeleton
Many genes related to the condition play a role in the internal scaffolding of cells, and cytoskeletal disruptions can affect neurodevelopment and behavior.
Astrocytes fuel erratic firing in fragile X neurons
A shift in astrocyte secretions may explain the atypical firing patterns of neurons derived from people with fragile X syndrome.

Astrocytes fuel erratic firing in fragile X neurons
A shift in astrocyte secretions may explain the atypical firing patterns of neurons derived from people with fragile X syndrome.
‘Splice-switching’ strategy boosts SYNGAP1 expression
The approach improves the function of SYNGAP1-deficient neurons in vitro, but whether it will work in people remains unclear.

‘Splice-switching’ strategy boosts SYNGAP1 expression
The approach improves the function of SYNGAP1-deficient neurons in vitro, but whether it will work in people remains unclear.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Amina Abubakar translates autism research and care for Kenya
First an educator and now an internationally recognized researcher, the Kenyan psychologist is changing autism science and services in sub-Saharan Africa.

Amina Abubakar translates autism research and care for Kenya
First an educator and now an internationally recognized researcher, the Kenyan psychologist is changing autism science and services in sub-Saharan Africa.
Multisite connectome teams lose federal funding as result of Harvard cuts
The teams aim to develop tools to scale up mouse connectomics in preparation for eventually mapping an entire human brain.

Multisite connectome teams lose federal funding as result of Harvard cuts
The teams aim to develop tools to scale up mouse connectomics in preparation for eventually mapping an entire human brain.
Learning in living mice defies classic synaptic plasticity rule
Donald Hebb’s theory—memorably summarized as “cells that fire together, wire together”—does not explain the shifting hippocampal connections in mice learning to navigate a virtual environment, according to a new study.

Learning in living mice defies classic synaptic plasticity rule
Donald Hebb’s theory—memorably summarized as “cells that fire together, wire together”—does not explain the shifting hippocampal connections in mice learning to navigate a virtual environment, according to a new study.