Circadian clocks: 50 years on

Since the first Cold Spring Harbor meeting on "Biological Clocks" in 1960, the field has progressed from the study of a fascinating but esoteric set of phenomena of interest primarily to a relatively small group of prescient biologists to become recognized as defining a centrally important aspect of biological organization. This change is the consequence of a profound increase in understanding of the mechanisms that generate and control circadian rhythmicity, coupled with the realization that circadian temporal organization is an important component of much of what most organisms do. As such, it impinges on human health, agriculture, and biological conservation, as well as on many more basic aspects of biology at every level. Many of the seminal discoveries of the last 47 years were presented and discussed at this exciting meeting.