April is Autism Awareness Month and even MIT scientists are getting in on the action with compelling new genetic research… Researchers now suspect that there are risk genes driving specific autism symptoms, such as repetitive behaviors.
The study…looked at an ASD-associated gene known as SHANK3, [which] is a scaffolding protein that organizes the flow of neurons in the synapses. Researchers found that SHANK3-deficient mice displayed repetitive behaviors, both in regards to grooming and social interactions.