School of Medicine

Drawing by an autistic childA research team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified regions of DNA that may be related to risk for autism. The researchers are learning how autism is inherited, and to identify genetic factors, they’re studying families and looking for traits that normally aren’t considered autistic but have connections to autism risk. Several studies have demonstrated that autism has a strong genetic component. If one child in a family is autistic, there’s about a 10 percent chance that a sibling also will have autism.

For technicians in the Genome Sequencing Center (GSC) at the School of Medicine, work is going to go a whole lot faster — hundreds of times faster, in fact. Fast enough to sequence the entire genome of a bacterial organism in one day instead of several weeks.

Courtesy of Cell MetabolismMay ’05 coverWhere fat comes from determines whether the body can metabolize it effectively. Researchers at the School of Medicine have found that the “old” fat stored in the body’s peripheral tissues — that is, around the belly, thighs or bottom — can’t be burned efficiently unless “new” fat is eaten in the diet or made in the liver.

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Autism study (week of May 4) • Low fat, not no fat (week of May 11) • West Nile virus cure (week of May 18) • Improving Crohn’s disease (week of May 25)

John Heuser, “Roddy” Roediger & Norman Schofield have been honored; the AAAS recognizes leadership in scholarship, business, the arts & public affairs.

The technique introduced into the animals’ cells a gene that makes clotting factor VIII, a protein missing because of a genetic defect. More medical news

Researchers may now be a step closer to understanding what causes cataracts and what may help prevent them.

The American Academy of Neurology has honored him with the Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick’s, Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases.

During last year’s Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, the Siteman Cancer Center fielded the event’s third-largest team.

Applicants from the basic sciences, epidemiological and behavioral science departments are especially encouraged to apply.