Temporal organization is a characteristic feature of all living systems.
Rhythmic phenomena can be observed at all levels of biological organization, with periods ranging from 10 -3 s to years. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these periodic processes generally involve various complex feedbacks and threshold phenomena which often defy an intuitive approach. In the Unit of Theoretical Chronobiology, we use mathematical models to elucidate the molecular bases of these rhythms. This theoretical approach, which is closely based on experimental data, contributes to a thorough understanding of the oscillatory phenomenon. Moreover, theoretical models lead to predictions which can in turn be tested experimentally.