Chloe Williams is a science journalist and editor based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and a former intern at The Transmitter. She writes about the environment and health. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Hakai Magazine and Yale Environment 360, among other publications. She completed a master’s degree in the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at New York University.
![Headshot of Chloe Williams.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/chloe-williams-768x768-1.jpg)
Chloe Williams
Contributing writer
The Transmitter
From this contributor
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.
![Research image of fetal macaque brains.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/lede-patterning-1200-1024x692.webp)
Brain patterning in utero may be implicated in autism, other conditions
‘Retro-Cascorder’ tracks gene-expression timing
The new tool may help researchers reconstruct the sequence of biological events that underlie development.
![Illustration of a cassette tape with the tape replaced by a DNA double helix](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/retrocasscorder-genes-dna-autism-844.jpg)
‘Retro-Cascorder’ tracks gene-expression timing
Scans of sundry variant types uncover autism-linked genes
Troves of sequencing data reveal genes tied to autism through different variant types, providing a more complete picture of the condition’s genetic roots and new clues to its heterogeneity.
![Conceptual illustration of a DNA double helix](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/844-denovo-inherited-variants-autism.jpg)
Scans of sundry variant types uncover autism-linked genes
Plethora of protein-making machines in neurons may underlie fragile X
An overabundance of ribosomes drives an imbalance of proteins produced from long and short genetic transcripts in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/protein-making-machines-fragile-x_844.png)
Plethora of protein-making machines in neurons may underlie fragile X
New resource maps gene expression, regulation in neuron subtypes
The catalog could help researchers understand the effects of autism-linked DNA variants that fall outside genes.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cis-regulatory-844.png)
New resource maps gene expression, regulation in neuron subtypes
Explore more from The Transmitter
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200_coughingmice-1024x720.webp)
Cell population in brainstem coordinates cough, new study shows
The work also adds to a growing body of evidence showing that mice, and their genetic toolbox, can be used to study cough.
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
![Capitol building](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/capitolhill-1200-1024x692.webp)
In updated U.S. autism bill, Congress calls for funding boost, expanded scope
The current Autism CARES Act sunsets in late September.
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.
![Illustration of ketamine blocking open ion channels in active NMDA receptors, quieting the cells and disrupting downstream signaling involved in depression.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1200-ketamine-receptor-transmitter-neuroscience-1024x683.webp)
Ketamine targets lateral habenula, setting off cascade of antidepressant effects
The drug’s affinity for overactive cells in the “anti-reward” region may help explain its rapid and long-lasting results.