Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

DNA as a Genetic Template

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...

DNA as a Genetic Template

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:

Understanding Sleep

Understanding Sleep

Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Melatonin and human chronobiology.

Cold Spring Harbor symposia on quantitative biology·2008

Same author

Sleep and sleep disturbance: from genes to dreams.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2007

Same author

Capturing the circadian rhythms of free-running blind people with 0.5 mg melatonin.

Brain research·2001

Same author

Pretreatment circadian period in free-running blind people may predict the phase angle of entrainment to melatonin.

Neuroscience letters·2001

Same author

Using melatonin to chase away the monday morning blues.

Sleep·2001

Same author

Effects of aging on the intrinsic circadian period of totally blind humans.

Journal of biological rhythms·2001

Same journal

Why high scores do not mean application readiness for health AI.

Nature medicine·2026

Same journal

Polypill for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: the POLY-HF randomized trial.

Nature medicine·2026

Same journal

Biological aging might help to explain the rising risk of early-onset cancer.

Nature medicine·2026

Same journal

Innate immune responsiveness predicts enhanced cellular immunity and symptomatic disease after controlled human influenza infection.

Nature medicine·2026

Same journal

A meta-analysis of the long-term effects of antihypertensive therapy on the risk of major cardiovascular disease across 51 randomized trials.

Nature medicine·2026

Same journal

Blood-based circular RNAs for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Nature medicine·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 26, 2016

Does our DNA determine when we sleep?

C M Singer, A J Lewy

Nature Medicine

|September 2, 1999

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers studied three families with advanced sleep phase disorder. This research reveals the genetic basis for inherited tendencies toward being an early bird or a night owl.

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila

The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila

Published on: December 14, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 26, 2016

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

Published on: June 19, 2019

The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila

The Sleep Nullifying Apparatus: A Highly Efficient Method of Sleep Depriving Drosophila

Published on: December 14, 2020

Area of Science:

Chronobiology
Human Genetics
Sleep Medicine

Background:

Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder (ASPD) is a circadian rhythm disorder.
Understanding the genetic underpinnings of ASPD can illuminate normal sleep timing variations.

Discussion:

The study investigated three kindreds exhibiting familial ASPD.
Analysis focused on identifying genetic factors influencing sleep phase preferences.

Key Insights:

Inherited genetic factors play a significant role in determining whether individuals are predisposed to being 'early birds' or 'night owls'.
Specific genes associated with circadian rhythm regulation were implicated in the studied kindreds.

Outlook:

Further research can explore the broader implications of these genetic findings for sleep health.
This work may pave the way for novel therapeutic targets for circadian rhythm disorders.