Seasonal gene switch locks fruit flies in winter mode
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
The short version
- Animals, plants and even bacteria use environmental cues to anticipate seasonal change and adjust their behavior and physiology accordingly.
- These adaptations can include migration, hibernation, reproductive changes and periods of dormancy that help organisms survive harsh conditions and food shortages.
- While scientists know changes in day length and temperature help trigger these seasonal responses, exactly how organisms integrate those signals to coordinate seasonal behavior was largely unknown.
What happened
The circadian clock was suspected to play a role in that process, but exactly how it influenced seasonal timing was unclear. The protein alters the function of the circadian clock, creating a molecular "winter lock" that remains in place until environmental cues signal it is time to return to a summer state.
Why it matters
"For years, we've been studying what is essentially the summer version of the clock," Hidalgo said.
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