Researchers Debut Autism Mouse Lacking SHANK3

Scientists have created mice that carry mutations in one of the strongest candidate genes for autism. The animals have behavioral and neurobiological features reminiscent of autism, researchers reported 17 December in Molecular Autism.The animals lack one copy of SHANK3, a gene that is disrupted in about one percent of individuals with autism and that has also been linked to schizophrenia. Compared with controls, the new mutant animals show social deficits during courtship rituals, but not in other situations.Read more at...SFARI, January 2011.