FEBRUARY 25, 2005 TheRecord 5

Current Research Cellular Defect That May Contribute To Autism Identified By Craig LeMoult

The causes of autism have long remained a mys- tery, but new research from Rosenberg Writes on the Women Who Changed Medical Center (CUMC) has identified for the first time how a cellular defect the World by Changing Columbia may be involved in the By Sheri M. Whitley won the Nobel Prize, but only neurological disorder. her two male partners would be The research, published illie Devereux Blake, Lillian recognized. Thanks in part to on Jan. 27 in the online Feinstein Hausman and such women, Columbia was no Express Reports of Marie Maynard Daly. Their longer thought of as a small, Science, examines how a names do not appear fre- Protestant college, but rather as defect in neuroligin genes L may contribute to autism. quently in history books, but these a major international research women are part of the story of institution. Neuroligins are compo- Columbia. In her most recent Decades of work on nents of synapses, which book, Changing the Subject: How women’s rights were paying off. connect individual neu- the Women of Columbia Shaped “Columbia’s graduate facilities rons in the brain. The the Way We Think About Sex and produced more female Ph.D.s researchers found that the Politics, Barnard Professor of than any other university in the loss of neuroligins per- History Rosalind Rosenberg country between 1920 and turbs the formation of neu- weaves an engaging tale of how a 1974,”Rosenberg notes. ronal connections and determined group of women Other, more well-known results in an imbalance of fought to change the educational women were also making con- neuronal function. This mission of Columbia and helped tributions to reform. Ruth imbalance provides an ignite the feminist movement in Benedict, Maragret Mead and explanation for the neu- rodevelopmental defects the United States. Right: Rosalind Rosenberg Zora Neale Hurston were trac- The post-Civil War United ing a path begun by early suffra- in autistic children. States was charting new territory gists. Columbia women were “Understanding the cel- socially and politically. In an making their mark, and the lular defects that may atmosphere of new-found egalitari- Columbia President Frederick world took notice. underlie autism-spectrum anism, Rosenberg writes, women A.P.Barnard, who would champi- “The accomplishments of disorders represents an began to push the limits of tradi- on her cause with the Board of women during World War II, at important step toward the tional gender roles with greater Trustees. He, too, was rejected; Columbia and across the coun- goal of providing thera- but as Changing the Subject pies,” said Peter Scheiffele, intensity. Lillie Devereux Blake was became a sort of academic beach- try, prompted President notes, “Women, Barnard firmly assistant professor of phys- one of them.In 1873,she petitioned head, says Rosenberg, a place Franklin Roosevelt to include a believed,would thrive at Columbia.” iology and cellular bio- Columbia College to admit five “from which women would make woman in the United States dele- The University president set out to physics at CUMC, and prin- young women, including her oldest incursions into the large universi- gation to the conference to write help fulfill what he considered an cipal investigator on the daughter, Elizabeth. Heavily influ- ty.” the United Nations charter in inevitable outcome. “More than 70 study. enced by , the rector of A number of milestones quick- 1945,”Rosenberg writes. He chose colleges and universities had decid- A defect in the neuroli- Trinity Church, the Board of ly followed. In 1893, Barnard grad- Barnard Dean Virginia Crocheron ed to admit women by 1873,”writes gin genes had previously Trustees rejected her petition. uated its first class of eight under- Gildersleeve. Rosenberg. It was a tide Barnard been observed in autistic “Coeducation,Dix implied to his fel- graduates. In 1898, Teachers “Columbia women,” says hoped he could help Blake ride. patients, but its functional low trustees, was a passing fashion,” College, under the leadership of Rosenberg,“remain an important And ride it she did. Blake and significance was not yet a remnant of the Civil War and James Earl Russell, became affiliat- force in American life.” Their Barnard sought help from the wives understood. Scheiffele’s Reconstruction, reports Rosenberg. ed with Columbia University and influence continues through of prominent businessmen in New study showed that in rat Perhaps even more important— embarked on an aggressive cam- graduates such as Supreme Court York, including Mrs. J.P.Morgan and neurons without any neu- and disastrous—at least for Dix, the paign to admit women and African Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg, Mrs. Henry E. Pellew, and also enlist- roligin, connections women who would apply for admis- Americans.Women also fought for noted feminist author Kate ed the efforts of well-known suffra- between neurons are sion might not be Episcopalian. the right to attend graduate-level Millett, former Secretary of State gists such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton altered in a way that is Many of them would also come classes. A number of prominent Madeleine Albright and dozens of and Jennie June Croly. strikingly similar to those from the increasing number of women scientists trained at other writers, scientists and Their struggle took decades. But found in autistic children. poor, immigrant families pouring Columbia began to make their artists who are eminent in their after first convincing the trustees to Each neuron in the into and might not be mark in the world. fields. But perhaps their greatest allow women to attend lectures, brain receives many differ- white. Such women, and strong- Lillian Feinstein Hausman legacy isn’t in any one area of then classes,the movement faltered, ent inputs—some are exci- minded women like Blake, became manager of Columbia’s study. Offers Rosenberg, “In per- failing to realize its goal of full tatory and signal the neu- Rosenberg contends, were less than prestigious computing laboratory suading others of the connection admission of women to Columbia ron to fire, and some are ideal in Dix’s estimation. in 1936. And in 1948, Marie among gender, sex, race and College. As a compromise, the inhibitory and signal the Maynard Daly earned a doctorate rights, the women of Columbia An Ideal Woman Trustees approved the founding of neuron to stop firing. in chemistry from Columbia, achieved something of lasting Blake was undeterred. She was in 1889. Scheiffele’s research team becoming the first African value; they ensured that what intent on finding a place where her found that neuroligin An Academic Beachhead American woman to be awarded a was once a local story would two daughters and other young genes are responsible for Ph.D. in chemistry in the United become a national, and even an women could receive a college edu- Named for the University regulating the balance States. Physicist Chien-Shiung Wu international, undertaking—one cation. President who had fought for the between excitatory and would participate in research that in which anyone could join.” She found an unexpected ally in inclusion of women, Barnard inhibitory synaptic func- tion.A defect in neuroligin leads to a selective loss in inhibitory function and thereby impairs the fine- Update on the School for Children at Columbia tuning of neuronal connec- tivity, a neurological prob- lem that is understood to ue to the impressive and to make recommendations for School-related policies and proce- ate professor of Medicine and play a role in autism. success of the School the September 2006 admissions dures well in advance of the next member of the PTA board; Harold “There is much we still for Children at cycle. Procedures for admission of admission cycle and can plan Edgar, Julius Silver Professor of don’t know about how DColumbia, there are unaffiliated community children accordingly. Individuals may con- Law, Science and Technology; neurons connect to each now more applications for certain will not be under review. The tact the task force via e-mail at Daniel Ellis Kleinman, associate other, but our findings grades, particularly kindergarten, University remains committed to [email protected] or professor of Arts; Amy K. Liebov, have provided unique than there are available openings. allocating 50 percent of the spaces write to it in care of the Office of lead kindergarten teacher; Alice S. insights into what may be Provost Alan Brinkley has named a to the community and using a lot- the Provost. The results of the Prince, professor of pediatrics; going wrong on a cellular Faculty Task Force on the School to tery system to admit these students. review will be available this Charles Tilly, the Joseph level in autistic patients,” help plan for the School in this The task force will seek advice Spring. Buttenwieser Professor of said Scheiffele. arena. from throughout the University The members of the task force Sociology;and Susan Pedersen,pro- He has asked the task force to and will work quickly to make rec- are: Kyle W. Bagwell, K.J. Lancaster fessor of history. Christia Mercer, review admissions and related mat- ommendations so that Columbia Professor of Economics and Gustav M. Berne Professor of ters as they affect Columbia families families can be notified of all Business; Karina Davidson, associ- Philosophy, is the committee chair.