Khaberni - A scientific team has succeeded in developing an innovative method to determine the "biological clock" of each person, using just one hair, in an achievement that may open the door to extensive applications in what is known as chronomedicine.
According to a report by journalist Raphael Gomith, this medical branch focuses on studying the biological rhythms that operate on a cycle of about 24 hours, aiming to improve treatments and disease prevention by understanding the "internal clock" of each individual.
Until now, the traditional method relied on measuring the hormone melatonin in saliva or blood every 30 or 60 minutes during the night under dim lighting to determine the timing of its secretion. However, this process is complex and requires a laboratory, limiting its widespread use.
However, researchers from Charité – University of Medicine in Berlin have come up with a simpler solution. The study was led by Professor Achim Kramer, head of the Department of Chronobiology, who, along with his team, developed a test based on analyzing cells from hair follicles.
Kramer explained that the team measured the activity of 17 genes linked to the molecular clock within these cells, adding that using machine learning techniques allows determining the phase that the biological rhythm is going through with precision, from just a single sample.
He emphasized that "hair analysis is much easier," giving this method great value, especially since its results match the accuracy of traditional methods based on melatonin.
Based on these results, researchers believe that chronomedicine is closer to practical application, which could change the future of diagnosis and treatment, by designing medical plans that align with the biological clock of each patient.
