New causes of autism found in 'junk' DNA
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Using artificial intelligence, researchers have revealed mutations in so-called 'junk' DNA can cause autism. The study is a first of its kind to link such mutations to neurodevelopmental condition functionally. The research successfully predicted the ramifications of genetic mutations (spontaneous, not inherited) in parts of the genome which don’t encode proteins; regions often mischaracterized as 'junk' DNA.