Circadian rhythms are generated by cell-autonomous molecular clocks in organisms ranging from cyanobacteria to humans. Recent research on the mechanisms of molecular clocks call for a reflection on the cause and necessity of complexity in biological systems.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Higher level constructive neutral evolution
Biology & Philosophy Open Access 23 June 2022
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$189.00 per year
only $15.75 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Young, M.W. & Kay, S.A. Nat. Rev. Genet. 2, 702–715 (2001).
Reppert, S.M. & Weaver, D.R. Nature 418, 935–941 (2002).
Doi, M., Hirayama, J. & Sassone-Corsi, P. Cell 125, 497–508 (2006).
Hirayama, J. et al. Nature 450, 1086–1090 (2007).
Nakajima, M. et al. Science 308, 414–415 (2005).
Woelfle, M.A., Xu, Y., Qin, X. & Johnson, C.A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104, 18819–18824 (2007).
Mori, T. et al. PLoS Biol. 5, e93 (2007).
Clodong, S. et al. Mol. Syst. Biol. 3, 90 (2007).
Rust, M.J., Markson, J.S., Lane, W.S., Fisher, D.S. & O'Shea, E.K. Science 318, 809–812 (2007).
Partch, C.L., Shields, K.F., Thompson, C.L., Selby, C.P. & Sancar, A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103, 10467–10472 (2006).
Virshup, D.M. & Forger, D.B. Cell 129, 857–859 (2007).
Nakahata, Y., Grimaldi, B., Sahar, S., Hirayama, J. & Sassone-Corsi, P. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 19, 230–237 (2007).
Acknowledgements
I thank L.A. Lindsey-Boltz, J.T. Reardon and C.P. Selby for comments on the manuscript and C.A. McCormick for her insight into the Rube Goldberg machines.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sancar, A. The intelligent clock and the Rube Goldberg clock. Nat Struct Mol Biol 15, 23–24 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb0108-23
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb0108-23
This article is cited by
-
Higher level constructive neutral evolution
Biology & Philosophy (2022)
-
The generality of Constructive Neutral Evolution
Biology & Philosophy (2018)
-
Keeping up with the times
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2010)