Molecular genetics of timing in intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorders |
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Authors: | Catharine Boothroyd Michael W Young |
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Institution: | From The Laboratory of Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA. |
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Abstract: | Recent advances in circadian biology are identifying key genes and the molecular clockworks they command. These biochemical systems provide new tools for evaluating clinically observed, intrinsic circadian rhythm sleep disorders. A striking example was last year's discovery of a point mutation in a human clock gene that produces a sleep phase syndrome. This finding suggested that other intrinsic sleep disorders may have genetic underpinnings, and that less debilitating variations in sleep/wake behavior may be revealed by molecular screening of known clock genes in broader human populations. |
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Keywords: | Circadian Rhythms Molecular Clocks Sleep Disorders |
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