The Fragile X Spectrum of Conditions
I’ve talked about Fragile X Syndrome before and its relationship to autism, albeit briefly. What I didn’t touch on, however, is that Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) isn’t the only condition […]
Tag Archives: about genes
The Evolution of Genetic Evolvability
“The hypothesis that evolvability – the capacity to evolve by natural selection – is itself the object of natural selection is highly intriguing but remains controversial due in large part […]
The Elephant Shark Finally Has its Genome Sequenced
Scientists this month reported on the whole-genome sequencing of the cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark, the first complete analysis of any of the non-bony fish [1]. These fish are very […]
Review of the Recent Study, “Increased L1 Retrotransposition in the Neuronal Genome in Schizophrenia”
Now, for repeat readers, you probably know I have a professional interest in the topic of transposable elements. So it should come as no surprise that a recent article published […]
A New Study Finds that the Jelly, Not the Sponge, May Lie at the Base of the Animal Evolutionary Tree
I’m afraid, my dear friends, I will have to bow out of writing an extensive blog for this week. Not only are my knees figuratively giving way under the weight […]
In Answer to David Dobbs’ Recent Question, “Why Bother Rewriting the Genome to Evolve?”
“This raises a question: if merely reading a genome differently can change organisms so wildly, why bother rewriting the genome to evolve? How vital, really, are actual changes in the […]
SHANK3: Remembering the Synapse in Autism
I have to admit that, like most human beings, I can over-focus at times. On this blog, I’ve gone on and on about the embryonic origins of autism and how […]
The Symbiotic Gene
“I shall argue that a predominant quality to be expected in a successful gene is ruthless selfishness” (Dawkins, 1976). So wrote the evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins, in Chapter One of […]
An Update on My Current Work: Bald Mice & Autism Genomics
I gotta be honest: my brain is pretty fried this weekend. After each sentence I type here I find myself staring off into space snatching some microsleep. Ya ever feel […]
Are Changes in the Epigenome Actually due to the Dynamic Nature of DNA?
I could be totally wrong on this one, which is cool. Happens often enough. And I won’t profess to be an expert in epigenetics, though I’m not completely ignorant of […]
Science Over a Cuppa 
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