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A Gene for Language Impairment

As part of a study of specific language impairment, a developmental disorder, researchers found a candidate gene for reading disability. In the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Mabel Rice from the University of Kansas and her colleagues report on a genetic linkage study of 322 people, 86 probands, 134 siblings, and 102 parents or other relatives. "In particular, KIAA0319 appears to play a role in the shared variance in speech, language, and reading phenotypes," the researchers write. Anthropology.net points out that KIAA0319 has already been associated with dyslexia.

The Scan

Positive Framing of Genetic Studies Can Spark Mistrust Among Underrepresented Groups

Researchers in Human Genetics and Genomics Advances report that how researchers describe genomic studies may alienate potential participants.

Small Study of Gene Editing to Treat Sickle Cell Disease

In a Novartis-sponsored study in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that a CRISPR-Cas9-based treatment targeting promoters of genes encoding fetal hemoglobin could reduce disease symptoms.

Gut Microbiome Changes Appear in Infants Before They Develop Eczema, Study Finds

Researchers report in mSystems that infants experienced an enrichment in Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Finegoldia and a depletion of Bacteroides before developing eczema.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Specificity Enhanced With Stem Cell Editing

A study in Nature suggests epitope editing in donor stem cells prior to bone marrow transplants can stave off toxicity when targeting acute myeloid leukemia with immunotherapy.