Which specific gene did Ronald J. Konopka link to altered sleep/wake rhythms in Drosophila?

Answer

period (per)

Ronald J. Konopka conducted crucial early research using the fruit fly, *Drosophila melanogaster*, to investigate the genetic basis of behavioral rhythms. In the early 1970s, Konopka successfully isolated a mutant strain of these flies that displayed disrupted or altered patterns of sleeping and waking. By studying this strain, he was able to pinpoint the specific gene responsible for controlling these timing mechanisms, which he subsequently named *period*, abbreviated as *per*. This identification provided the first strong, empirical evidence that the roughly 24-hour timing mechanism inherent in living organisms—the circadian rhythm—was indeed governed by specific genetic encoding.

Which specific gene did Ronald J. Konopka link to altered sleep/wake rhythms in Drosophila?

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Dr. Joseph Takahashi: Circadian Revelations - YouTube

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