#omgscience

The Circadian Rhythm is an organism’s internal body clock used to monitor the day-night cycle so that fluctuations in abiotic factors can be anticipated.

Decoding the link between genes and behaviour to study the Circadian Rhythm was “a terrific problem”, in the words of Michael W. Young, which was largely achieved by the prize winners with the help of fruit flies. 

Studying a gene named ‘Period’ in fruit flies (present in humans and other organisms too) Hall and Rosbach noted that it produced a protein whose presence in cells increases and decreases over the course of a day and night. At night, the protein accumulates in cells and then over the day its production decreases due to the protein itself inhibiting the activity of the Period gene that codes for it.  

For the protein to regulate gene expression, it must have a mechanism to enter the nucleus. Young managed to identify another gene called ‘Timeless,’ which allows the protein that regulates the period gene to enter the nucleus by binding to another protein. Young later also identified a gene called ‘Doubletime’ which regulates internal clocks so that they run in a 24 hour period, that of the Earth’s rotation. 

With the Circadian Rhythm having an influence over many aspects of human health, this research could allow for other research into how Circadian Rhythms can be regulated to treat many health conditions related to our internal clocks. 

If you are wanting to hear the prize winner’s thoughts on their achievement, I have linked the telephone interviews for each of the three winners below. My particular favourite was Michael Rosbash‘s candid recount of the moment he found out that he had been awarded the prize. 

Jeffrey C. Hall

Michael Rosbash

Michael W. Young