Genetic Oscillators

Genetic oscillators are molecular systems that can alter gene expression over time in a periodic manner. They are constructed by combining the principles of genetic regulation and non-linear chemical reaction dynamics to synchronize the expression of multiple genes. They are important tools for designing biological circuits—networks of genes and proteins that have the same behavior as electronic circuits—and are used for studying the timing of biological processes such as cell cycle and developmental programs. Genetic oscillators are also useful for engineering synthetic biological systems that can produce biomolecules with periodic variation, which can be used in medical, industrial, and agricultural applications.