David Ledbetter

Chief clinical officer
Dascena

David Ledbetter is chief clinical officer of Dascena, a personalized medicine company.

From this contributor

Spectrum

By David Ledbetter, Scott Myers

23 March 2021

5 min read

Brain made of DNA strands on a background of molecule shapes

There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes

There is not yet a single example of a gene that, when mutated, increases the likelihood of autism but not of other neurodevelopmental conditions, including intellectual disability.

Brain made of DNA strands on a background of molecule shapes

Spectrum

There are no autism-specific genes, just brain genes

By David Ledbetter, Scott Myers

23 March 2021 | 5 min read

Spectrum

By David Ledbetter

6 May 2013

3 min read

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum

Intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia should be considered part of a spectrum of developmental brain dysfunction, says David Ledbetter.

Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Spectrum

Developmental disorders should be viewed as continuum

By David Ledbetter

6 May 2013 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Spectrum

By Giorgia Guglielmi

12 November 2026

4 min read

Research image showing genes containing microexons in mice.

Machine-learning model spots autism-linked variants that scramble splicing

The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.

Research image showing genes containing microexons in mice.

Spectrum

Machine-learning model spots autism-linked variants that scramble splicing

The model provides a way to investigate genetic variation in regions of the genome whose functions have been difficult to interpret.

By Giorgia Guglielmi

12 November 2026 | 4 min read

Systems neuroscience

By Natalia Mesa

11 November 2026

10 min read

Illustration of two overlapping speech bubbles patterned with blue and pink horizontal lines on a background of pink and brown horizontal lines.

Future of AI brain models sparks debate

Neuroscientists are divided about whether foundation models that predict brain responses will help the field understand how brains work.

Illustration of two overlapping speech bubbles patterned with blue and pink horizontal lines on a background of pink and brown horizontal lines.

Systems neuroscience

Future of AI brain models sparks debate

Neuroscientists are divided about whether foundation models that predict brain responses will help the field understand how brains work.

By Natalia Mesa

11 November 2026 | 10 min read

Spectrum

By Jill Adams

10 November 2026

2 min read

Scans of brains using the OPM-MEG method.

Language development during the first 1,000 days; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.

Scans of brains using the OPM-MEG method.

Spectrum

Language development during the first 1,000 days; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 November.

By Jill Adams

10 November 2026 | 2 min read