Valerie Ross
Freelance Writer
SFARI.org
From this contributor
RNA binds to fragile X gene, shutting it down
Misplaced pieces of RNA bind and disable the gene responsible for fragile X syndrome, leading to the disorder, according to a study published 28 February in Science.
Attention deficit in mothers raises children’s autism risk
Children of women who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are at increased risk for autism and attention deficit, according to a study published 21 January in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. This suggests the two diseases have common risk factors.

Attention deficit in mothers raises children’s autism risk
Spontaneous and rare mutations are key in schizophrenia
Spontaneous and rare mutations, particularly in genes related to networks that regulate neuronal connections, contribute a small but significant proportion of the risk for schizophrenia, report two large studies published online 22 January in Nature.

Spontaneous and rare mutations are key in schizophrenia
Duplication of chromosome 22 region thwarts schizophrenia
Carrying a duplication of the 22q11.2 chromosomal region may protect against schizophrenia, suggests a study published 12 November in Molecular Psychiatry. This is the first evidence of a genetic region that lowers the risk of a disorder rather than increases it.

Duplication of chromosome 22 region thwarts schizophrenia
Genetics: SHANK3 duplication leads to hyperactivity in mice
Mice with a duplication of SHANK3, a gene with strong links to autism, are hyperactive and manic, reports a study published 7 November in Nature.

Genetics: SHANK3 duplication leads to hyperactivity in mice
Explore more from The Transmitter
Federal funding cuts imperil next generation of autism researchers
As the International Society for Autism Research’s annual meeting begins, its next president reflects on a brewing crisis.

Federal funding cuts imperil next generation of autism researchers
As the International Society for Autism Research’s annual meeting begins, its next president reflects on a brewing crisis.
Null and Noteworthy: Reanalysis contradicts report of immune memory in astrocytes
The analysis, which has not yet been peer reviewed, attributes the finding to misidentified immune cells instead.

Null and Noteworthy: Reanalysis contradicts report of immune memory in astrocytes
The analysis, which has not yet been peer reviewed, attributes the finding to misidentified immune cells instead.
Documenting decades of autism prevalence; and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 28 April.

Documenting decades of autism prevalence; and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 28 April.