Researchers used CRISPR gene editing to create human stem cell lines with one or two copies of POGZ deleted, then studied how this affects early neuronal development. In neural stem cells and neurons derived from these lines, POGZ loss altered the activity of genes involved in synaptic signaling, intracellular communication, and the extracellular matrix, and changed how key transcription factors bind to DNA. Comparing POGZ deletions to those of two other neurodevelopmental disorder genes (MEF2C and SCN2A) revealed shared molecular disruptions, pointing to common pathways through which different gene mutations may converge to cause neurodevelopmental conditions. Cells with both copies of POGZ deleted also showed changes in electrical firing and neurite growth, linking the molecular findings to measurable differences in neuron behavior.