‘Junk DNA’ plays a key role in regulating circadian clocks January 7, 2021USC Study suggests the impact of non-coding microRNAs on circadian rhythms is tissue specific and may reveal new insights into disease processes. If you’ve ever had a bad case of jet lag, you know how a disruption to your body’s circadian rhythm makes it difficult to function. Molecular circadian “clocks” exist in cells throughout the body, governing more than just sleep and wake cycles — they are crucial to many aspects of human health. For more than a decade, researchers have been trying to figure out what makes them tick, in search of new insights into diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer and diabetes.