Mutant Time Travelling Mice and Me

Scientists have linked genes that control the body's circadian rhythm--also known as its 24-hour internal clock--to genes that contribute to the development of bipolar disorder. Scientists have long known that people with bipolar disorder have abnormalities in their biological rhythms, particularly their sleep patterns. By focusing on these rhythms in a recent study of mice, researchers found that animals that carried a mutation in one of the key genes of the circadian rhythm had behaviors that were surprisingly similar to people experiencing a manic episode of bipolar disorder. The investigators hope their finding could lead to new treatments for the condition.

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