How Gene Activity Controls Body Clocks and Metabolism Over Time and in Different Places

Circadian rhythms are a conserved feature in nearly all forms of life, influencing daily physiological processes.

• Circadian rhythms help organisms adapt to daily light-dark cycles and environmental changes.
• The mammalian circadian clock is composed of transcription factors that operate through negative feedback loops.
• Epigenetic mechanisms, transcriptomics, and 3-dimensional chromatin architecture are key to understanding the mammalian clock's transcriptional structure.
• The clock and metabolism influence each other, contributing to the regulation of metabolic rhythms.
• Disruptions in the circadian clock due to genetic or environmental factors may impact human health.
• Future challenges include addressing fundamental questions to advance the field of circadian biology.

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