Academy of Science awards American researcher Reppert

Prague, March 20 (CTK) - The Czech Academy of Sciences (AV CR) presented Steven M, Reppert, internationally renowned U.S. expert in circadian biology and neuroethology, with the honorary Mendel Medal Wednesday, Miroslava Kankova, from AV CR's press section, told CTK Wednesday.

"The most significant Czech scientific institution expressed its extraordinary respect for the U.S. researcher on the occasion of his visit to the Czech Republic. It also reflects his long-lasting and very successful cooperation with the AV CR's Biology Centre in Ceske Budejovice [south Bohemia]," Kankova said.

Reppert is an expert from the Massachusetts university's neurobiology department.

In the past 25 years, he has largely contributed to important achievements in the molecular and genetic analysis of circadian timing of mammals, including humans.

Apart from mammals, he uses insects in his research. This combination has helped him uncover the biological timing mechanisms on the molecular, cellular and neuroanatomical levels.

Moreover, he has significantly contributed to uncovering the molecular mechanism of navigation in migrant organisms, and also animals' capability of perceiving the Earth's magnetic field and use this information for their orientation in space.