Michael W. Young

Michael W. Young is a renowned American geneticist and chronobiologist who significantly advanced the understanding of biological clocks that regulate daily rhythms in living organisms. His research, particularly on the fruit fly Drosophila, uncovered key genes that control circadian rhythms—the natural 24-hour cycle influencing sleep, behavior, and physiological processes. His discoveries, along with those of Jeffrey C. Hall and Michael Rosbash, earned them the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Young's work helps explain how organisms synchronize their internal functions with the day-night cycle, impacting health, sleep patterns, and overall well-being.