What monumental mammalian clock gene did Joseph Takahashi’s team identify in mice in 1994?
Clock gene
The challenge following the fly research was translating the molecular timing mechanism to mammals, as the homologous genes were found to be structurally different. Dr. Joseph Takahashi, working at Northwestern University, led the team specifically searching for the mammalian equivalent of the fly’s timing system. In 1994, this diligent search resulted in the discovery of the *Clock* gene in mice. This gene proved to be a major regulator, controlling the expression of other crucial clock elements in mammals, including the mammalian *Per* genes. This discovery confirmed that vertebrates possessed an analogous, yet distinctly evolved, genetic architecture for maintaining their internal timekeeping.
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Dr. Joseph Takahashi: Circadian Revelations - YouTube