Science View

Clock Genes and the Body Clock (2x6)

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Our body clock makes us feel hungry or sleepy at set times. You probably know the feeling. The latest studies have found as many as 300 substances in the human body that vary in amount according to a 24-hour cycle to generate the body's rhythm. We also now know there are body-clock genes which govern these processes. While experience tells us that we are likely to get sick if our body clock is disrupted, and more likely to fall ill at particular times of day, science is now tackling these issues, too. Mice with disrupted body clocks, for example, catch a sickness that people often get. What do you think it is? A gene has also been discovered which generates a rhythm and then controls embryonic growth. What hidden links are there between life and time? Don't miss this fascinating report!