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Spectrum: Autism Research News

Tag: stem cells

October 2023
A scientist looks into a microscope

Raising the bar for stem cell research: Q&A with Jack Mosher

by  /  10 October 2023

New quality benchmarks for basic research involving stem cells promise to improve rigor and reproducibility, says Mosher, who helped develop the standards.

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June 2023
Image of three developing axons.

Autism’s ties to the cell skeleton

by  /  22 June 2023

Many genes related to the condition play a role in the internal scaffolding of cells, and cytoskeletal disruptions can affect neurodevelopment and behavior.

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May 2023
Research image of neurons and astrocytes.

Astrocytes fuel erratic firing in fragile X neurons

by  /  10 May 2023

A shift in astrocyte secretions may explain the atypical firing patterns of neurons derived from people with fragile X syndrome.

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March 2023
Adapted research image of immunofluorescence staining of primary cortical neurons showing expression of PTBP proteins and reduced level of the protein SYNGAP1.

‘Splice-switching’ strategy boosts SYNGAP1 expression

by  /  21 March 2023

The approach improves the function of SYNGAP1-deficient neurons in vitro, but whether it will work in people remains unclear.

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February 2023
Research image comparing neurons that lack the ZFP462 gene to wildtype neurons.

Autism-tied gene ZNF462 keeps developing neurons on track

by  /  1 February 2023

The gene, linked to a little-known condition called Weiss-Kruszka syndrome, prevents embryonic stem cells from deviating from their neuronal destiny.

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January 2023
Lab images of cilia.

Autism and the cell’s antennae

by  /  4 January 2023

Many autism-linked genes are somehow tied to cilia, the tiny hair-like sensors that stud a cell’s surface. But the question remains whether, and how, cilia differences contribute to the condition.

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December 2022
Neural progenitor cells in a culture medium, color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph (SEM).

Autism subgroups converge on cell growth pathway

by  /  5 December 2022

Faulty mTOR signaling, implicated in syndromic forms of autism, also hinders cells grown from people with idiopathic autism or autism-linked deletions on chromosome 16.

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November 2022
Image displaying impeded interneuron development.

‘Assembloids’ lay bare autism-linked genes that hamper neuron development

by  /  30 November 2022

The model enables the study of autism-linked genes at the earliest stages of neural development.

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October 2022
Image of a synthetic mouse embryo.

Lab-grown ‘embryoids’ offer new window into gene-trait relationships

by  /  26 October 2022

The developmental models have advantages over natural embryos and other synthetic models, such as organoids, but present technical and ethical challenges.

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July 2022

The most personalized medicine: Studying your own child’s rare condition

by  /  7 July 2022

A handful of scientists are committed to advancing research on the autism-related genetic conditions their own children have.

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