In what could lead to new tests and treatments for autism, scientists claim to have discovered a key gene in the brain, which is linked to the condition. An international team, led by the University of California, has shown for the first time how the CNTNAP2 gene linked to autism rewires the brain's connections, a finding which could lead to new tests and treatments. In children with the gene, the brain's frontal lobe, which plays a key role in learning, is poorly linked to the rest of the brain, the 'Daily Mail' reported. Lead scientist Ashley Scott-Van Zeeland said: "In children who carry the risk gene, the front of the brain seems to mainly talk to itself. It doesn't communicate as much with other parts of the brain and lacks long-range connections to the back of the brain." There were also fewer connections between the frontal lobe and the left side of the brain, which is key to speech and understanding language. Team member Dr Daniel Geschwind, an expert in the genetics of autism, said: "This is a key piece of the puzzle we've been searching for. Now we can begin to unravel the mystery of how genes rearrange the brain's circuitry not only in autism but in many related neurological disorders." According to the scientists, learning more about how the CNTNAP2 gene is linked to autism could lead to new tests for the condition. It could also help with the design of drugs that strengthen the connections between brain regions. "If we determine that the CNTNAP2 variant is a consistent predictor of language difficulties, we could begin to develop targeted therapies to help rebalance the brain and move it toward a path of more normal development," they said. The findings have been published in the latest edition of the 'Science Translational Medicine' journal.
Correlating the ups and down in the Indian rupee with the stock market, Vijay Bhambwani, CEO, bsplindia.com, suggests that if the rupee continues with its downward fall, the Indian stock market may fall breach October lows and fall further. “If the rupee falls below the 53.0-53.50 mark vis-a-vis the USD, expect a mini meltdown atleast in the equity markets. In that case, the 2250 level (on Nifty) will be breached easily to form a new low. The possibility of that low being below the 2000 levels on the Nifty spot is fairly high,” he says. Bhambwani supports his outlook by comparing the value of rupee at the time of October lows. “The October 2008 lows were made with the INR at 51.20 - 51.40 band. The rupee has breached the 52 level since then. Clearly the nation’s ‘share price’ (currency) indicates weakness. The curency market is a far more accurate barometer of the nation’s health compared to the equity indices. Whether you like it or not, we are under siege. Had it not been March (NAV ...
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