Smart genes; Neanderthal mini-brains; diabetes link and more

Transcription

1 SPOTTED Smart genes; Neanderthal mini-brains; diabetes link and more BY EMILY WILLINGHAM 29 JUNE 2018 WEEK OF JUNE 25 TH Smart genes Gene variants linked to higher intelligence are strongly associated with autism, according to a large study published 25 June in Nature Genetics. Variants related to intelligence are also linked to reduced odds of schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer s disease. The variants are expressed at high levels in the hippocampus, a memory region that plays a role in autism. Nature Genetics / 25 Jun 2018 Genome-wide association meta-analysis in 269,867 individuals identifies new genetic and functional links to intelligence Neanderthal mini-brains What could go wrong? With access to ancient human DNA and the advent of the gene editor CRISPR, it was only a matter of time until researchers started editing Neanderthal genes into laboratory-created mini-brains to see what would happen. Efforts to create Neanderthal minds were described 20 June in Science. Autism researcher Alysson Muotri of the University of California, San Diego, says some of the features of Neanderthal brain development mirror what s seen in the brains of children with autism. I don t want families to conclude that I m comparing autistic kids to Neanderthals, but it s an 1 / 5

2 important observation, he told Science, saying that these changes are linked to differences in social development. Science / 20 Jun 2018 Exclusive: Neanderthal minibrains grown in dish Diabetes link A maternal diabetes diagnosis by the 26 th week of pregnancy is tied to increased autism odds in the child, according to findings published 23 June in JAMA. The increase is present for both type 1 and 2 diabetes and for gestational diabetes, extending previous findings tying gestational diabetes to autism risk. JAMA / 23 Jun 2018 Maternal type 1 diabetes and risk of autism in offspring Disrupted development A gene variant tied to autism and intellectual disability affects nerve-cell development unexpectedly early, researchers reported 21 June in Stem Cell Reports. This variant of GRIN2B has typically been studied in mature neurons in rodents. But here, researchers coaxed skin cells from people carrying the variant to develop into neurons and found effects even at the neuronal stem-cell stage. Stem Cell Reports / 21 Jun 2018 Disruption of GRIN2B impairs differentiation in human neurons Fragile X progress 2 / 5

3 CRISPR-based delivery of gene-editing molecules into the brains of mice with a mutation that leads to fragile X syndrome eases the animals repetitive behaviors. In findings published 25 June in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the researchers report that their system, CRISPR-Gold, edits all cell types in the brain. Nature Biomedical Engineering / 25 Jun 2018 Nanoparticle delivery of CRISPR into the brain rescues a mouse model of fragile X syndrome from exaggerated repetitive behaviours Neurotic genetics Neuroticism, the tendency to respond to situations with negative emotions, is a risk factor for depression and schizophrenia, diagnostic cousins of autism. The explanation could be in the genes. An analysis of 449,484 human genomes shows that neuroticism-related variants are associated with both depression and schizophrenia, according to results published 25 June in Nature Genetics. Nature Genetics / 25 Jun 2018 Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for neuroticism in 449,484 individuals identifies novel genetic loci and pathways Trade-war repercussions China and the United States are set to involve science in their growing trade war beginning on 6 July. That s the day the two nations start taxing scientific-instrument parts and other tools of scientific research, escalating the cost of doing science in both countries, Nature reported 22 June. Nature / 22 Jun 2018 US-Chinese trade war puts scientists in the cross hairs 3 / 5

4 African preprint site African scientists now have a preprint site exclusively for them. The founders of AfricArXiv hope it boosts the visibility of African science and facilitates collaborations, Nature reported 25 June. Researchers can post reports, datasets and code, and all African languages are welcome. Nature / 25 Jun 2018 African scientists launch their own preprint Rush to market The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is fast-tracking drugs to market at the same time as the pharmaceutical industry supports most of the agency s budget for scientific reviews, ProPublica reported 26 June. The fast-tracked candidates tend to be expensive with significant side effects and unproven health benefits, ProPublica says. Among these side effects is death. A couple of fast-tracked drugs, one for gout and another for Parkinson s disease, are both tied to increased mortality risk and received approval despite failing in most clinical trials, ProPublica reported. ProPublica / 26 Jun 2018 FDA repays industry by rushing risky drugs to market School support An intervention for elementary-school students with autism showed success in a classroom trial. The program, called Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Support, targets social and emotional function. The findings were published 25 June in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 4 / 5

5 Powered by TCPDF ( Spectrum Autism Research News Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology / 25 Jun 2018 Cluster randomized trial of the classroom SCERTS intervention for elementary students with autism spectrum disorder News tips Do you have a new paper coming out? Are you making a career move? Did you see a study or news story that you want to share? Send your news tips to news@spectrumnews.org. 5 / 5