New Genetic Variants Found to Control Human Body Clocks
The study identifies 167 gene-regulating variants that dictate daily rhythmic expressions across 49 tissue types.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Researchers have identified 167 circadian expression quantitative trait loci (cd-eQTLs) that influence rhythmically expressed genes across 49 human tissues. This research-stage study bridges genetic variation with biological clocks to explain how specific traits are regulated over time.
Why it matters
By accounting for sampling time, this approach reveals genetic effects on rhythm parameters that traditional studies miss. It provides a new framework for understanding the biological basis of human chronotype and metabolic traits.
The study identified 167 cd-eQTLs and 54 lead signals across 28 tissues, focusing on variants within 50 kb of a transcription start site. Most of these variants demonstrate an alteration in the oscillation amplitude of gene expression.
The details
Researchers applied a cosinor-based joint genotype-by-rhythm interaction framework to GTEx gene expression data. This method uses donor-inferred phase—a computational estimation of an individual's internal circadian time—as a proxy to track rhythmic gene activity. By measuring the interaction between genetic variants and these rhythmic cycles, the team identified variants that specifically shift the timing or strength of gene expression patterns.
Timeline
- 2026-10-26
Study results are published.
The Tech Race
This research advances the precision of the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project by adding temporal resolution to traditional static genomic mapping. It moves the field beyond baseline gene expression toward a dynamic model of how biological clocks influence phenotype regulation.
This research provides a scientific foundation for understanding why people exhibit different chronotypes and metabolic responses. While not a clinical tool today, it lays the groundwork for future personalized medicine approaches that account for an individual's unique biological clock.
The takeaway
This study establishes a new link between circadian rhythm genetics and common phenotypes like blood cell counts and adiposity. Watch for future research incorporating these temporal parameters into large-scale GWAS models to refine health risk predictions.
Further reading
Explore deeper insights into human biology and genetics in our Life Sciences section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Biorxiv.
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