Lauren Gravitz is a freelance writer and editor in Hershey, Pennsylvania, who covers health, medicine, science and the environment. Her stories have appeared in Nature, Aeon, The Economist, Technology Review, O, The Oprah Magazine and Discover, among others.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Lauren-GravitzCC.jpg)
Lauren Gravitz
Freelance Writer
SFARI.org
From this contributor
At the intersection of autism and trauma
Autism and post-traumatic stress disorder share many traits, but the connection between them was largely overlooked until now.
Autism’s drug problem
Many people on the spectrum take multiple medications — which can lead to serious side effects and may not even be effective.
Lack of DNA modification creates hotspots for mutations
The absence of a chemical alteration called methylation on some stretches of DNA makes them especially prone to mutations, according to a paper published in PLoS Genetics in May.
![](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/image-archive/images/news/HypomethylationArticle.jpg)
Lack of DNA modification creates hotspots for mutations
Explore more from The Transmitter
Future of BRAIN Initiative funding remains unclear
As the U.S. Congress begins to discuss federal science funding for 2025, any plans to compensate for this year’s cuts to the neuroscience program face an uphill battle.
![Image of a crumpled dollar bill whose edges suggest a line graph trending downward.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Funding-1200-1024x692.webp)
Future of BRAIN Initiative funding remains unclear
As the U.S. Congress begins to discuss federal science funding for 2025, any plans to compensate for this year’s cuts to the neuroscience program face an uphill battle.
Computational and systems neuroscience needs development
Embracing recent advances in developmental biology can drive a new wave of innovation.
![Illustration of a fly with its life cycle represented on its left and a technological background on its right.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lede-Scott-1200-1024x692.webp)
Computational and systems neuroscience needs development
Embracing recent advances in developmental biology can drive a new wave of innovation.
FOXP1 gene; dose effect of neurodevelopmental conditions; transcriptomics in mouse model of autism
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 1 July.
![Research image showing the number of unique SHANK3 transcripts in mice.](https://www.thetransmitter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fig6A-Transcriptome-1200-1024x692.webp)
FOXP1 gene; dose effect of neurodevelopmental conditions; transcriptomics in mouse model of autism
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 1 July.