Scientists have induced the hallmarks of autism in mice by giving them faecal transplants from humans with the condition. In the study, animals that had faecal transplants from children with autism became less sociable, less vocal and developed repetitive behaviours. In contrast, genetically identical mice that had transplants from people without autism were unaffected by the procedure. Writing in the journal Cell, the scientists describe how they used a tracking system to monitor how well mice socialised after they had received faecal transplants. Mice that had transplants from children with autism did not wrestle, push and sniff other mice as much as the control group of mice, which had transplants from people without autism.

Source: The Guardian May 30, 2019 15:11 UTC