The neurons of people with Rett syndrome contain an overabundance of retrotransposons — DNA sequences that copy and insert themselves into new spots throughout the genome — during early development, according to a study published 18 November in Nature.

Retrotransposons, also known as 'jumping genes,' make up nearly half of the mammalian genome. Long labeled as 'junk DNA,' these genes may have a biological function and influence disease, say researchers.

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Image courtesy of Alysson Muotri.

A controversial new approach that quiets the activity of certain neurons in the brain alleviates breathing difficulties in a mouse model of Rett syndrome, according to a study published 4 October in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed almost exclusively in girls, shares some features of autism.

Besides loss of speech and motor skills, children with Rett syndrome often have irregular breathing: they often hold their breath, hyperventilate or swallow air.

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I don't know of anyone in the science journalism community who doesn't know Bora Zivkovic. Prolific blogger extraordinaire known to many of us as Bora, he and Anton Zuiker started the first of what's now known as ScienceOnline, an annual conference in which prominent journalists and bloggers and scientists gather to eat delicious food (eg, LocoPops) and discuss how they can do their jobs better.

I met Bora at the first of these gatherings, the 2007 Triangle Science Blogging Conference. In a blogging 101 session, he taught us beginners how to set up our first blogs on WordPress and encouraged us to be brave and write our first posts.

That's why I'm honored that he interviewed me about my work and my impressions of ScienceOnline 2010. Read it here and here.

In the interview, I gave special props to Penny, my first blog commenter and super supportive running friend, and my mom (also super supportive) who left me a voicemail telling me that I needed to correct a few typos on my new website. Thanks to Bora for the interview and to the people who support me by keeping it real.