Katharine Gammon is an award-winning independent science journalist based in Santa Monica, California. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, WIRED, The Guardian, Undark, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, Nature, Hakai and beyond.
Katharine Gammon
From this contributor
Spotted around the web: Mapping histones; COVID-19 births; acetaminophen lawsuits
Here is a roundup of news and research for the week of 31 October.
Spotted around the web: Mapping histones; COVID-19 births; acetaminophen lawsuits
A mix of common and rare variants shapes autism inheritance patterns
The study also reveals a link between language development and common variants.
![Photograph of a parent crossing a city street with two children](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/844-rare-common-inherited-variants-autism.jpg)
A mix of common and rare variants shapes autism inheritance patterns
Zebrafish point to new gene involved in brain overgrowth, autism
The gene, YTHDF2, has not previously been linked to autism.
![Three scans of zebrafish brains.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/844-lede-ashg-zebrafish-brain-overgrowth-gene-autism.png)
Zebrafish point to new gene involved in brain overgrowth, autism
Lags in genetic testing, variant reporting hinder autism research
Few autistic people undergo the recommended genetic testing for their condition, and test results often do not make their way into public databases, where researchers and clinicians can learn from them.
![People in a medical office, seen through a window with reflections.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Clinic-diagnosis-genetic-testing-autism-844.jpg)
Lags in genetic testing, variant reporting hinder autism research
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
![Research image of neurons in the fly’s ventral nerve cord.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lede-motormodules-1200-1024x692.webp)
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
![Illustration of researchers talking to laypeople amidst strands of DNA.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1200_Charman-1024x687.webp)
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/paincircuit-1200-1024x692.webp)
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.