Page "Circadian rhythm" Paragraph 14

A defect in the human homologue of the Drosophila " period " gene was identified as a cause of the sleep disorder FASPS ( Familial advanced sleep phase syndrome ), underscoring the conserved nature of the molecular circadian clock through evolution.

Many more genetic components of the biological clock are now known.

Their interactions result in an interlocked feedback loop of gene products resulting in periodic fluctuations that the cells of the body interpret as a specific time of the day.