hed out to include Nicholas Schork, a genetics expert at Scripps Research. In deciding a first target, the group decided to focus on a gene known as MECP2 because it plays major roles in controlling brain development. Past studies with mice have shown that MECP2 regulates the activity of a wide range

ogies and techniques. Expanding the Search Schork and the rest of the team are now excited about the potential for additional related work. Because MECP2 has been linked to autism, there is a very real possibility that studying SNPs in autistic patients might reveal one or more that link to brain dev

pathogenic alterations in a gene or genes that are relevant to the diagnostic indication for which the sequencing was ordered (e.g., a mutation in MECP2 in a girl with loss of developmental milestones). Incidental finding This term has been used in a variety of clinical and research contexts to in