ASHG 2019

Recent articles

RNA, transcription

Antidote to ‘poison’ DNA may treat lethal form of epilepsy

An experimental drug silences a DNA segment and seems to prevent seizures and death in a condition related to autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
26 August 2020 | 3 min read

Brain ‘organoids’ point to new drug target for fragile X syndrome

New findings hint at why drugs that work in mouse models of fragile X syndrome have not been effective in people.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
18 October 2019 | 3 min read
Illustration of a DNA strand.

Massive project doubles list of genes tied to autism

The largest analysis of sequences from autistic people and their families implicates 184 genes in the condition — nearly doubling the previous estimate.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
17 October 2019 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Is our intelligence rooted in how living organisms are organized?

Kathryn Nave explains how a concept called constraint closure may be fundamental to understanding brains, minds and cognition.

By Paul Middlebrooks
15 July 2026 | 1 min read
Soha Ashrafi photo collage art.

Making an impact through academic administration

As executive director of research at Harvard Medical School’s Department of Neurobiology, Soha Ashrafi supports more than 300 scientists, students and staff members.

By Katie Moisse
15 July 2026 | 7 min read
Illustration of birdsong, bird brain, and DNA.

This paper changed my life: Embracing an early model for naturalistic neuroscience

A 1992 PNAS paper showed how birdsong upregulates the expression of an immediate early gene in bird forebrains. The work revealed to Ribeiro the importance of studying molecular responses in naturalistic contexts.

By Sidarta Ribeiro
14 July 2026 | 4 min read