The biological clock of the body

Located in our genes is a 'clock' that controls when we sleep, when we wake up and when we eat. This is a biological clock called a physiological rhythm, a 24-hour biological cycle that makes our body adapt to the dark cycle of day and night.

These rhythms explain why we sleep at night and function during the day. They are also the reason for the need to eat many meals a day. And according to Paolo Sassone-Corsi, UCI emeritus professor, they also provide clues to chronic diseases, metabolic disorders and aging.

Sassone-Corsi said: 'Physiological rhythm is an ancient biological operating system based on a dark, circular cycle, a long-standing natural element like our planet. 15% of our genes are controlled by these rhythms, and breaking them will affect human health - leading to obesity, diabetes, insomnia, depression, heart disease and cancer ' .

Although the recognition of these physiological rhythms dates back to the era of Alexander the Great, scientific research about them is only about a century old. And Sassone-Corsi may be the world's leading expert in this area.

Researching the body's biological clock can lead to methods to restore health and limit the effects of aging.(Photo: PhysOrg)

For the past 15 years, he has discovered that molecular switches can turn on or off this physiological rhythm. Since joining UCI in 2006, Sassone-Corsi has published numerous studies in magazines such as Nature, Sciece, and Cell, describing in detail how physiological rhythm proteins combine with other cellular proteins. To regulate cell aging, metabolism, heart functions, brain and digestion. These findings are important in developing future drugs to limit cell dysfunction or death, thus helping to solve medical problems such as cancer and diabetes. .

Equally important, Sassone-Corsi says these findings suggest good health depends on keeping balance with the body's natural rhythm.

People who break down the body's biological clock - night shift workers at night or those who don't eat properly - often wear eating disorders, metabolic diseases of the liver, heart and kidneys.

Sasson-Corsi said: 'When this balance is broken, normal cell function is broken. Having an unhealthy lifestyle will put your body's biological clock under some pressure and lead to illness. '

He concluded: 'Continuing to learn more about the processes of physiological rhythm is an important thing. With the knowledge gained, we can begin the process of developing interventions - both behavioral and medical - to help preserve and restore human health. '