Biorhythms underlie many aspects of our lives ensuring that all cellular processes occur in their optimal temporal niche. Molecular oscillators with circadian or ultradian (<24h) rhythms have been independently characterized in multiple organisms/cells and revealed to be crucial timekeeping mechanisms operating during DEVELOPMENT, AGEING AND DISEASE. Our group studies one such oscillator – the EMBRYO MOLECULAR CLOCK (EC) – which regulates the periodic formation of the vertebrate embryo axial skeleton precursors. EC gene expression oscillations are driven by negative feedback mechanisms and its periodicity depends on timely mRNA and protein turnover. We aim to answer the following questions:

• What regulates the periodicity of the EC?
• What is the functional role of EC gene expression oscillations?
• How does the dysregulation of the EC impact tumorigenesis?