Robinson IBN-9630020 Circadian rhythms influence many aspects of the functioning of an organism, such as sleep cycles, reproduction and cognitive abilities. One frontier in bimlogy is therefore to elucidate the molecules that comprise biological clocks in order to gain new insights on how biological clocks are governed. This research focuses on the expression of the period (per) gene, one of the most-well studied genes of the biological clock to date. Dr. Robinson is measuring changes in per gene expression during growth an maturation, especially as the transition from arrthymical to rhythmical behaviors is being made. Because the expression of clock genes has never been undertaken in this model system, the study will generate important new information on how clock genes regulate specific neurobiological and behavioral functions.
