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Spectrum: Autism Research News

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Emerging tools and techniques that may advance autism research.

Previous articles
August 2022
Illustration of two chromosomes with copy number variants.

‘Dosage sensitivity map’ predicts active ingredients in copy number variants

by  /  31 August 2022

The catalog of rare copy number variants tied to autism and other conditions could help researchers identify which genes account for the mutations’ effects.

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Illustration of a cassette tape with the tape replaced by a DNA double helix

‘Retro-Cascorder’ tracks gene-expression timing

by  /  19 August 2022

The new tool may help researchers reconstruct the sequence of biological events that underlie development.

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On the left hand side are several abstract and blurry red and blue blobs. On the right hand side are a series of red and blue dots.

Machine learning streamlines neuroimaging data analysis

by  /  15 August 2022

The method could boost reproducibility across brain imaging studies of autism.

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July 2022

New software flags autism rat model’s telltale squeaks

by  /  29 July 2022

By breaking rodent vocalizations into parts, TrackUSF distinguishes rats with mutations in the SHANK3 gene from their wildtype counterparts.

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Sequencing trick identifies brain cells affected by large autism-linked mutation

by  /  25 July 2022

The method, called Orgo-Seq, reveals that a deletion of genes on chromosome 16 increases the proportion of immature neurons and neural precursors in brain organoids derived from people with the mutation.

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New resource maps gene expression, regulation in neuron subtypes

by  /  1 July 2022

The catalog could help researchers understand the effects of autism-linked DNA variants that fall outside genes.

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June 2022

Unlocking the mitochondrial genome for autism research

by  /  1 June 2022

The DNA specific to mitochondria is difficult to access, but new methods place its secrets within reach.

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May 2022
Someone in a yellow shirt stands at a kitchen counter, watching a cooking video on a small tablet computer and following along.

Standard quality-of-life screener validated for autistic adults

by  /  24 May 2022

Researchers updated the tool’s scoring system to better align with the experiences of autistic people.

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3D rendering of a mouse brain showing axons coming from the prefrontal cortex in various colors.

New atlas maps neuronal wiring in mouse brain

by  /  3 May 2022

The ‘projectome’ charts axonal pathways between individual cells in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region implicated in autism.

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April 2022

Deep-learning tool tracks interacting animals in real time

by  /  27 April 2022

By coupling the tool — called SLEAP — with optogenetics, researchers can determine the neural circuits underlying social behaviors.

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