British scientists say they have identified a gene that's critical in the fruit fly for synchronizing its temperature cycle with that of its environment.

The scientists, led by Ralf Stanewsky of Queen Mary University of London, said "clock cells" in the brain must be synchronized each day with cycles in the environment to prevent the clocks from running too fast or too slow.

The researchers demonstrated circadian clock cells in the brains of fruit flies that were separated from the body failed to synchronize with environmental temperature cycles. In contrast, the scientists found clock cells can readily synchronize with light-dark cycles even when the brain has no connection to the fly's body.

The researchers said a gene called nocte is essential to the fly's capacity to synchronize its body clock by means of temperature signals.

Stanewsky said the findings might help scientists "understand the human circadian clock and, in the future, perhaps contribute to developing treatments against the negative effects of sleep-disorders and shift-work."

The study is reported in the journal Neuron.