Simons Simplex Collection
Recent articles
Untangling biological threads from autism’s phenotypic patchwork reveals four core subtypes
People belonging to the same subtype share genetic variants, behaviors and often co-occurring diagnoses, according to a new preprint.

Untangling biological threads from autism’s phenotypic patchwork reveals four core subtypes
People belonging to the same subtype share genetic variants, behaviors and often co-occurring diagnoses, according to a new preprint.
Genome structure could be key factor in some forms of autism
Variants in DNA stretches that do not code for proteins may alter the genome’s 3D architecture, influencing the expression of distant genes linked to autism.

Genome structure could be key factor in some forms of autism
Variants in DNA stretches that do not code for proteins may alter the genome’s 3D architecture, influencing the expression of distant genes linked to autism.
Some who lack autism diagnosis carry variants tied to the condition
The variants are associated with slight differences in measures of intelligence, income and employment, but the relationship may not be causal.

Some who lack autism diagnosis carry variants tied to the condition
The variants are associated with slight differences in measures of intelligence, income and employment, but the relationship may not be causal.
Null and Noteworthy: Modified MRI; father findings
This month’s newsletter tackles null findings from an attempted replication of a “revolutionary” MRI approach and an analysis of family genetics.

Null and Noteworthy: Modified MRI; father findings
This month’s newsletter tackles null findings from an attempted replication of a “revolutionary” MRI approach and an analysis of family genetics.
X-chromosome variants help explain autism’s sex bias
The rare variants are also linked to ADHD and Tourette syndrome, two other conditions that disproportionately affect boys and men.

X-chromosome variants help explain autism’s sex bias
The rare variants are also linked to ADHD and Tourette syndrome, two other conditions that disproportionately affect boys and men.
Scans of sundry variant types uncover autism-linked genes
Troves of sequencing data reveal genes tied to autism through different variant types, providing a more complete picture of the condition’s genetic roots and new clues to its heterogeneity.

Scans of sundry variant types uncover autism-linked genes
Troves of sequencing data reveal genes tied to autism through different variant types, providing a more complete picture of the condition’s genetic roots and new clues to its heterogeneity.
Mutations disrupting chromatin interactions contribute to autism
The mutations occur spontaneously in noncoding stretches of DNA that control gene expression.

Mutations disrupting chromatin interactions contribute to autism
The mutations occur spontaneously in noncoding stretches of DNA that control gene expression.
The final frontier: Autism geneticists take on the noncoding genome
The vast stretches of DNA that don't code for proteins could fill key knowledge gaps about autism genetics. But making sense of it all won't be easy.

The final frontier: Autism geneticists take on the noncoding genome
The vast stretches of DNA that don't code for proteins could fill key knowledge gaps about autism genetics. But making sense of it all won't be easy.
Common inherited variants tied to autism show sex bias in families
Siblings of autistic females are more likely to have autism than siblings of autistic males are, and mothers of autistic children carry more common, autism-linked variants than fathers do.

Common inherited variants tied to autism show sex bias in families
Siblings of autistic females are more likely to have autism than siblings of autistic males are, and mothers of autistic children carry more common, autism-linked variants than fathers do.
Spectrum of variants contribute differently to autism traits
Different combinations of common, rare, inherited and spontaneous mutations may explain why traits vary so widely among autistic people.

Spectrum of variants contribute differently to autism traits
Different combinations of common, rare, inherited and spontaneous mutations may explain why traits vary so widely among autistic people.
Explore more from The Transmitter
Food for thought: Neuronal fuel source more flexible than previously recognized
The cells primarily rely on glucose—rather than lactate from astrocytes—to generate energy, according to recent findings in mice.

Food for thought: Neuronal fuel source more flexible than previously recognized
The cells primarily rely on glucose—rather than lactate from astrocytes—to generate energy, according to recent findings in mice.
Claims of necessity and sufficiency are not well suited for the study of complex systems
The earliest studies on necessary and sufficient neural populations were performed on simple invertebrate circuits. Does this logic still serve us as we tackle more sophisticated outputs?

Claims of necessity and sufficiency are not well suited for the study of complex systems
The earliest studies on necessary and sufficient neural populations were performed on simple invertebrate circuits. Does this logic still serve us as we tackle more sophisticated outputs?
Subthalamic plasticity helps mice squelch innate fear responses
When the animals learn that a perceived threat is not dangerous, long-term activity changes in a part of the subthalamus suppress their instinctive fears.

Subthalamic plasticity helps mice squelch innate fear responses
When the animals learn that a perceived threat is not dangerous, long-term activity changes in a part of the subthalamus suppress their instinctive fears.