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A longstanding question in neurodevelopmental biology has been whether, or to what degree, traits resulting from neurodevelopmental disorders might be reversible.

In a , a team led by Guoping Feng of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT and the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at ӳý, McGovern’s Yuan Mei, and ӳý’s Patricia Monteiro, looked at mice born with impairments to Shank3, a gene known to contribute to a subset of autism cases. By reactivating the gene at different times of development, the researchers found that certain behavioral abnormalities caused by the impairment to Shank3, such as social deficits and repetitive behaviors, could be rescued even in adulthood, while other traits, such as anxiety and motor coordination deficits, could only be rescued early in development. The findings inform our understanding of brain plasticity and suggest that therapeutic interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders may be more effective if delivered early in development. .

Genetic disorders are often hard to model. This is particularly true for those caused by non-allelic homologous recombinations (NAHR) — which occur when highly similar portions of the genome wrongly recombine. A new study from ӳý associate members James Gusella and Michael Talkowski, both of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), and first author Derek J.C. Tai, also of MGH and HMS, describes a new method for using the genome engineering tool CRISPR/Cas-9 that accurately models NAHR abnormalities. Find out more about this new approach and what it means for the study of genetic disorders in .

Synergy between two large cancer datasets may help identify a targetable weakness across many cancers

When making a simple telescope, relative adjustments between two lenses can bring previously blurry objects sharply into focus. Peering through two such “lenses” recently led to a discovery that may help identify which patients could most benefit from taking aim at a potentially widespread cancer therapeutic target.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a cancer of the salivary glands that is difficult to treat. New research from ӳý may hold therapeutic promise for some patients. Image by Yale Rosen.

Cancers can be cunning beasts and one of their favorite opportunities is something called a chromosomal translocation. Chromosomes are the 23 packages in every cell of condensed DNA. Translocations happen when the DNA breaks and the ends reattach elsewhere. DNA breakage actually occurs somewhat frequently, even in healthy individuals. But a series of ancient and very smart cellular processes ensure that things get put back in the right place — except when they don’t.