DGCR8 and autism: It should also be noted that while expression of a phosphomimetic DGCR8 (which mimics phosphorylation by kinases such as MAPK/ERK) induces a pro-growth miRNA signature in a heterologous cell line (Herbert et al., 2013), it remains unknown whether or not the phosphorylation status of DGCR8 could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for cases of autism characterized by aberrant growth.