A top genomics expert at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) says that variations in the RANBP1 gene disrupt brain signaling, offering a new target for subtypes of severe autism and other neurological diseases. "The gene we investigated may function as an important factor, not only in forms of autism, but also in other neuropsychiatric conditions," said study leader Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, director of the Center for Applied Genomics at CHOP. "We have uncovered underlying molecular defects across disease categories, suggesting that these biological networks are good targets for future research." Release