STR Abacus

Proposed Cover Art

Publication:

Patterns of de novo tandem repeat mutations and their role in autism. 

Nature, 589, p. 246–250 (2021)

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The paper discusses a connection between a higher number of mutations at short tandem repeats (STRs) and the likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

In the proposed cover art, an abacus is depicted as a metaphor for the counting process of  STR units. DNA strains / rods where more beads have been counted (or moved to the left )  are highlighted in ochre, indicating a higher number of repeat copies of the STR within that genome.