With this ground breaking discovery, the scientists could gain control over the biological clock which plays a pivotal role in the cell division, heartbeat rates as well as innumerable of other functions.
Two types of cells in SCN
Experiments conducted on mice have revealed that the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), part of the brain that controls the body clock, contains two kinds of cells. Only one kind of cells controls our circadian rhythm, which is also termed as the 24 hour body clock in layman’s language. These clock cells, so to say, are home to a gene called per1.
The non-clock cells, on the other hand, do not have per1 gene. Hitherto, researchers working on jet lags had been analyzing electrical signals from both these types of cells and had more often than not been bamboozled by the findings.
Dr Hugh Piggins of the University of Manchester and colleagues, who conducted the experiments, claim that their findings could pave the way for development of drugs aimed at moderating or controlling the daily body clock. Such drugs would specifically target the per1 cells.
The complexity surrounding SCN
Questioned on weather such experiments could be conducted on the human beings, Dr Piggins said, "The SCN is located very deep in the brain and difficult to get at. You could not carry out these experiments on humans.”
The researchers found that the per1 cells code the time of day by being silent. This state of silence is contrary to what the scientists have continued to believe for years.
Dr Piggins said, "SCN clock cells in the brain have special properties to allow them to survive in unusual states. It is the cells that do not make per1 that behave in the conventional way."
“What is interesting is that there could also be per1 genes
in other parts of the brain which could completely change our knowledge of this mysterious organ," noted Dr Piggins.
Beneficial for other medical conditions
The findings of the present research may also assist efforts to treat conditions like Alzheimer's disease and mood disorders.
Co-researcher Professor Daniel Forger, a mathematician at the University of Michigan, opined, “Knowing what the signal is will help us learn how to adjust it, in order to help people.”
"We have cracked the code, and the information could have a tremendous impact on all sorts of diseases that are affected by the clock," added the Professor.
The findings of the study have been published in the journal Science.
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