Noted

Alex Eben Meyer

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With a genetic profile remarkably similar to that of humans, the tiny zebrafish has been a valuable model for researching human diseases ranging from muscular dystrophy to various types of cancer. Now, Yale researchers are using the fish to identify possible treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

The team had identified how disrupting ten different autism risk genes in zebrafish affected sleep and sensory processing behaviors. For this new study, they exposed zebrafish without mutations to 774 US FDA-approved drugs, identifying 520 that were nontoxic and that had significant behavioral effects. 

Comparing these drug profiles with the behavioral profiles of zebrafish carrying mutations in two genes that indicate risk of autism, they identified several substances that reversed disrupted functioning in the fish with those mutations. The researchers note that the study supports ongoing research into ASD therapies tailored to specific genetic profiles, and they have created an open-source website with profiles of all 774 drugs screened, which they hope will facilitate drug discovery.

Carbon sequestration—capturing and securely storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to prevent it from driving atmospheric warming—is an important tool for mitigating climate change. A recent study by Yale and other institutions has shown that deep-rooted grasses such as switchgrass store significantly more carbon than shallow-rooted plants. 

The team took over 700 soil samples from nine states, comparing soil from beneath both switchgrass and shallow-rooted crops (e.g. corn, wheat, soybeans). The switchgrass stored 0.6 kilograms of carbon per square meter more in its roots than the shallow-rooted crops. The authors say this study could inform research on using perennial grasses as an alternative biofuel source.