More than 1,200 genes have been linked to autism spectrum disorder, but new research published in Science on September 18, 2026, reveals that this vast genetic diversity funnels into just two opposing molecular states in the brain — a finding…
A team at the Institute for Basic Science found that 17 mouse lines with different autism-risk mutations sorted into two groups with inverse synaptic and gene-regulatory activity, according to a study published in Science.medicalxpress+1
The molecular groupings were not fixed by genetics alone — in 7 of 17 mouse lines, males and females with the same mutation fell into opposite groups, shifting with age and brain region.medicalxpress+1
The two profiles responded differently to fluoxetine and lithium, and preliminary human data showed analogous subgroups, though researchers cautioned the findings cannot yet guide clinical decisions.medicalxpress+1