SINGLE PROTEIN SETS BIOLOGICAL CLOCK A husband and wife research team from Purdue University has discovered our biological clock is a single protein that times out periods of activity and inactivity within cells. D. James and Dorothy Morre say if the protein is altered the body will experience days of different length -- ranging from 22 to 42 hours. "Since the clock affects nearly every bodily activity, this discovery holds myriad potential applications, from minimizing jet lag to determining when best to administer cancer drugs," James Morre says. The Morres found cells enlarge for 12 minutes, then rest for 12 before growing again. James Morre theorized some undiscovered proteins were responsible for the 24-minute growth cycle. The team found a single cylinder-shaped protein molecule regulated the cycle. "Our model is that of a Janus-head protein with two opposing faces," he said. "One 'face' handles cell enlargement. Then the protein 'flips over,' allowing the second face to carry out other activities while cell enlargement rests. United Press International Thanks to ArcMax.com Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.