Circadian Rhythms and the Molecular Clock

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young for their contributions to elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms.

Circadian rhythms are oscillations in an organism’s biochemistry, physiology, and behavior with a period close to 24 hours, reflecting the adaptation of life to the day and night cycle. Circadian rhythms are evolutionally conserved and have been found in almost all organisms ranging from bacteria to mammals. Even though these cyclical functions are synchronized with the day-night cycle, they are controlled by an internal clock. Tuz will describe the molecular mechanisms of this biological clock discovered by the Nobel Laureates of 2017. The discussion will be in the context of sleep and sleep disorders as they occur when circadian rhythms are disrupted.