Gene networks

Recent articles

Research image of fetal macaque brains.

Brain patterning in utero may be implicated in autism, other conditions

Genes tied to several conditions are expressed in regions that control neural stem cell fate within the first few months post-conception.

By Chloe Williams
1 August 2024 | 6 min read
A diagram of autism-linked genes.

Autism-linked proteins mingle with other molecules in overlapping networks

A massive new set of interaction maps illuminates especially high convergence in protein networks related to autism and shows how mutations could disrupt those networks.

By Alla Katsnelson
8 February 2024 | 5 min read
Illustration of half of a brain on the left and half of a heart on the right

Change of heart and mind: Autism’s ties to cardiac defects

Children with congenital heart disease have an increased likelihood of autism. Why?

By Lauren Schenkman
21 July 2023 | 12 min read

Fishing for protein partners nets clues to autism

Connections between 13 autism-linked proteins and their binding partners in excitatory neurons implicate a new molecular pathway.

By Holly Barker
6 February 2023 | 5 min read
lllustration of the junction between two nerve cells.

Multi-omics study captures CNTNAP2’s far-ranging effects

The in-depth approach shows mutations in the autism-linked gene disrupt neuronal growth and communication, as well as mitochondrial gene expression.

By Charles Q. Choi
8 December 2022 | 4 min read

Two top autism-linked proteins connect to build cell ‘skeleton’

ADNP and SHANK3 proteins may bind together and alter a neuron’s internal scaffold, hinting at a mechanism that, when disrupted, may underlie several forms of autism.

By Chloe Williams
9 June 2022 | 5 min read

Autism and the complete human genome: Q&A with Evan Eichler

Scientists have at last filled in the missing gaps — an advance likely to inform every aspect of autism genetics research, Eichler says.

By Charles Q. Choi
10 May 2022 | 8 min read
DNA helix inside the human body

Autism genetics, explained

The more scientists dig into DNA, the more intricate its contribution to autism seems to be. Here, we unravel the complex genetics of autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
28 May 2021 | 5 min read
Oligodendrocyte gene grouping showing network of blue lines connecting the gene names on reddish bubbles.

Differing gene functions across species may pose problems for autism models

Misaligned gene expression maps suggest that some autism-linked genes play distinct roles in mouse and human brains.

By Angie Voyles Askham
22 February 2021 | 4 min read
Global map of 17,800 human proteins.

Proteome map identifies more than 90 percent of all human proteins

Researchers expand on the already enormous progress made on the Human Proteome Project

By Taylor White
9 December 2020 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

BCL11A-related intellectual developmental disorder; intervention dosage; gray-matter volume

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 11 November.

By Jill Adams
12 November 2024 | 2 min read
Illustration of a brain overlaid with circles containing flowers and circuit-like networks, among other images.

NeuroAI: A field born from the symbiosis between neuroscience, AI

As the history of this nascent discipline reveals, neuroscience has inspired advances in artificial intelligence, and AI has provided a testing ground for models in neuroscience, accelerating progress in both fields.

By Anthony Zador
11 November 2024 | 6 min read
Illustration of a simple matrix of overlapping circles next to a more complex network of intersecting lines against a muted but colorful background.

What the brain can teach artificial neural networks

The brain offers valuable lessons to artificial neural networks to boost their data and energy efficiency, flexibility and more.

By Anthony Zador
11 November 2024 | 7 min read