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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: macrocephaly

June 2016

Questions for Alysson Muotri: Applying autism tools to Zika

by  /  14 June 2016

Mini-brains grown from stem cells in culture can reveal the effects of both autism and the Zika virus on early development.

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Dozens of autism genes have cancer connections

by  /  10 June 2016

A comprehensive catalog of the genes that show ties to both autism and cancer highlights the role of cell growth in both conditions.

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May 2016

Mouse with key autism mutation defies expectations

by  /  14 May 2016

Mice with a mutation in CHD8, the top autism gene, show no signs of any of the condition’s core features.

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June 2015

Diverse features found for autism-linked chromosome changes

by  /  29 June 2015

The first in-depth look at people with alterations in the 1q21.1 chromosomal region reveals a range of features, from problems with fine motor skills to autism.

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Study picks up autism broadcast in tiny antennae on cells

by  /  8 June 2015

Mutations in a section of chromosome 16 that is linked to autism have an unexpected effect: They alter the miniscule hairs, or cilia, that adorn the surface of all cells. The findings suggest that problems with these cilia may contribute to autism.

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April 2015

Autism-linked DNA deletion may derail brain development

by  /  2 April 2015

Missing a swath of chromosome 16 with strong ties to autism disrupts proteins crucial for early brain development. The findings open the door to targeted interventions.

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March 2015

Gene defect may signal distinctive form of autism

by  /  30 March 2015

Mutations in the gene DYRK1A underlie a type of autism marked by an unusually small head. The new work expands the breadth of symptoms included under the autism umbrella.

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January 2015

Surplus of neurons spurs autism traits in mice

by  /  15 January 2015

Fetal mice that have too many neurons grow to show social deficits and repetitive behaviors. The finding, reported 11 December in Cell Reports, debuts a mouse model of autism that’s based on a biological abnormality seen in some people with the disorder.

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December 2014

Editors’ picks: Our favorite stories from 2014

by  /  22 December 2014

This year was full of big headlines in autism research. But the biggest stories aren’t necessarily the best — here are some gems you may have missed over the year.

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Brains of people with autism show altered growth with age

by  /  11 December 2014

Several brain regions in people with autism become enlarged earlier than usual during childhood and shrink too soon during adulthood, finds an eight-year imaging study.

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