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A rare genetic glitch reveals how the developing brain wires itself for connection

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Imagine a building's communication system — CNTNAP2 is like the fiber-optic cable that lets rooms talk to each other. When it's missing, messages get scrambled before they reach their destination.

This means studying rare genetic losses teaches us what the normal brain is actually building, one wire at a time — and could help us spot other wiring problems earlier.

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