Hypothesis:
1.) Animals with nocturnal sleep cycles will have greater similarity in the PER gene than the PER gene of diurnal animals.
2.) Differences in the sequences of PER genes can account for variance in the free running period (FRP) between varying organisms.
3.) Human PER gene homologs arose from prior duplication events throughout evolution.
Motivation and Background:
The biological clock is an endogenous mechanism that regulates the physiological activities of an organism. It was not until recently that much of the intricate molecular mechanisms or genes controlling the circadian rhythm were elucidated, with this years Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine granted to three scientist for their contributions to the field. The Period or the PER gene was identified by Ronald Konopka and Seymour Benzer at CalTech as one of the primary clock genes (1971). Further research revealed a feedback loop comprising of the transcription, translation, and post-translational modifications of the PER protein that serves as the framework for rhythmicity in the biological clock (Hardin et al, 1990, 1992); this feedback loop is often referred to as the TTFL (Transcription Translation Feedback Loop). …show more content…
In particular, we are interested in understanding the PER gene in relationship to the free running period and the onset of activity in an organism. In addition, we will look to explain how multiple PER homologs arose in the human genome by identifying duplication events throughout
1.) Animals with nocturnal sleep cycles will have greater similarity in the PER gene than the PER gene of diurnal animals.
2.) Differences in the sequences of PER genes can account for variance in the free running period (FRP) between varying organisms.
3.) Human PER gene homologs arose from prior duplication events throughout evolution.
Motivation and Background:
The biological clock is an endogenous mechanism that regulates the physiological activities of an organism. It was not until recently that much of the intricate molecular mechanisms or genes controlling the circadian rhythm were elucidated, with this years Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine granted to three scientist for their contributions to the field. The Period or the PER gene was identified by Ronald Konopka and Seymour Benzer at CalTech as one of the primary clock genes (1971). Further research revealed a feedback loop comprising of the transcription, translation, and post-translational modifications of the PER protein that serves as the framework for rhythmicity in the biological clock (Hardin et al, 1990, 1992); this feedback loop is often referred to as the TTFL (Transcription Translation Feedback Loop). …show more content…
In particular, we are interested in understanding the PER gene in relationship to the free running period and the onset of activity in an organism. In addition, we will look to explain how multiple PER homologs arose in the human genome by identifying duplication events throughout