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Related Concept Videos

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

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,...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

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The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
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Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters
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Published on: September 27, 2012

Searching for genes underlying behavior: lessons from circadian rhythms.

Joseph S Takahashi1, Kazuhiro Shimomura, Vivek Kumar

  • 1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. j-takahashi@northwestern.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Forward genetics successfully identified genes controlling circadian rhythms by linking genes to behavior. These methods can now be applied to study other complex behaviors like anxiety and learning.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Forward genetic screens have been instrumental in dissecting complex biological systems.
  • Circadian rhythms, governed by intricate molecular mechanisms, exhibit significant genetic influence on behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the reasons behind the success of forward genetics in elucidating circadian clock mechanisms.
  • To demonstrate the applicability of these genetic approaches to other complex behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing forward genetic screens to identify genes affecting circadian rhythms.
  • Analyzing the connections between genes, cellular processes, neural circuits, and observable behaviors.
  • Extrapolating successful methodologies from circadian rhythm research to other behavioral domains.

Main Results:

  • Forward genetics has successfully uncovered key genes underlying circadian clocks and behaviors in model organisms like Drosophila and mammals.
  • Established clear links between specific genes, cellular functions, neural pathways, and circadian outputs.
  • Demonstrated that single genes can have substantial impacts on behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Forward genetics is a powerful strategy for dissecting the genetic architecture of complex behaviors.
  • The principles and methods successful in circadian research can be adapted to investigate the genetic basis of anxiety, addiction, and learning and memory.