5|25: Celebrating Five Years of Autism Science Day 8: Creation
of Neuroligin-3 Mutant Mouse In honor of the anniversary of
Autism Speaks’ founding on Feb 25, for the next 25 days we will
be sharing stories about the many significant scientific
advances that have occurred during our first five years
together. Our eighth item, Creation of Neuroligin-3 Mutant
Mouse, is from Autism Speaks’ Top 10 Autism Research Events of
2007. Animal models have long been employed to replicate some of
the behavioral and biochemical characteristics of autism. The
models are chosen for study either because they have behaviors
reminiscent of autism, or because they have received genetic or
environmental manipulations believed to be linked, directly or
indirectly, to autism. Yet, only with the recent progress of
detailed genetic studies in developmental disorders have these
models been based on the actual genetic differences found in
humans with autism. Some of these newer models for autism
include mouse models of medical genetic sy