Articles tagged with Biological Rhythms
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A study published in Nature found a link between the circadian clock and sudden cardiac death, revealing that the controller of the circadian clock, Klf15, affects potassium flow out of heart muscle cells. This can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and increased risk of deadly arrhythmias.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine discovered a novel genetic factor linking the body's natural circadian rhythm to heart electrical activity. This discovery provides insights into day-night variation in arrhythmia susceptibility and may lead to innovative approaches for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Research reveals that a circadian clock controls the expression and function of TLR9, an immune system protein, leading to enhanced or impaired immune responses depending on the time of day. The study's findings have significant implications for sepsis treatment and prevention.
Plants use their internal clocks to anticipate and prepare for insect attacks, increasing production of defense hormones like jasmonate. This allows them to resist damage from caterpillars and other pests.
Research at Oregon State University found that disrupting circadian rhythms causes accelerated neurodegeneration, loss of motor function, and premature death. Disrupted clock mechanisms predispose the brain to neurodegeneration, which may cause more damage to the clock function.
Researchers found that chrysanthemum plants adapted to irregular light periods, promoting rapid leaf development. The study's results suggest that these changes can be induced by low average light intensity, potentially reducing supplemental lighting costs in greenhouses.
A new study correlating circadian clocks with transplant success found that arteries of mice with dysfunctional internal clocks became diseased within weeks after transplantation. Transplanted blood vessels from healthy mice remained healthy in mutant mice, suggesting optimal organ function may be key to successful transplants.
Scientists have discovered a new component of the biological clock, a gene responsible for starting the clock from its restful state every morning. This discovery may help explain the genetic underpinnings of sleeplessness, aging and chronic illnesses such as cancer and diabetes.
Researchers found that the body's internal clock regulates human platelet function, causing a peak in platelet activation corresponding to the morning peak in adverse cardiovascular events. This discovery has potential to address the morning peak in cardiovascular risk and decrease related mortality.
Researchers found that a species of cavefish, Phreatichthys andruzzii, has an unusual circadian clock that ticks at an extremely long period, unaffected by eye loss. The study suggests that the fish's clocks can be regulated by feeding behaviour, but not light exposure.
Researchers at Yale University have identified a crucial gene, DET1, that regulates the plant circadian clock. This finding could lead to engineering plants that can thrive in different seasons and locations. By understanding the circadian rhythm, farmers may be able to grow crops year-round, reducing seasonal limitations.
Researchers at UCLA found that the suprachiasmatic nucleus, or SCN, begins to decline in rhythmic neural activity by middle age. This decline may contribute to difficulties with sleep, adjusting to time changes, and performing shift-work in older adults.
Researchers have identified a key regulator of the plant's daily growth cycle, which shares similarities with human circadian rhythm genes. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of how clock genes regulate cell division in humans and provide new avenues for developing disease therapies.
A novel molecule, QUASIMODO (QSM), has been discovered as essential for relaying light-information to the circadian clocks of fruit flies. This molecule plays a crucial role in synchronizing the internal biological processes, such as sleep/wake cycles, with external time.
A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers reveals that the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae exhibits daily rhythms in gene expression, with nearly 16% of its genome showing time-of-day specific changes. This discovery highlights potential targets for novel malarial control strategies and optimization of existing approaches.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that disrupting the circadian rhythms of fruit flies by feeding them at incorrect times led to reduced fertility. The study suggests a connection between diet and reproduction, highlighting the importance of timing in maintaining reproductive capacity.
A Northwestern University study found that people who go to bed late and sleep in eat more fast food, fewer fruits and vegetables, and weigh more than those with earlier sleep times. The extra calories consumed can lead to significant weight gain if not balanced by physical activity.
Researchers found that infants' brains develop the ability to determine light and dark cycles independently of visual stimuli. The study suggests that this innate ability is a hard-wired feature of development, allowing animals to synchronize their circadian rhythms with daily changes in light exposure.
A new study reveals that clock genes function in multiple areas of the human brain, affecting sleep patterns and cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients. The findings have significant implications for understanding and treating sleep disturbances associated with the disease.
Researchers at Michigan State University have identified the key role of circadian clocks in plant freezing tolerance. The study found that integrating cold-signaling pathways with the circadian clock is crucial for maximum freezing tolerance, paving the way for the development of stress-tolerant crops.
Researchers have found that obesity can impair the body's natural circadian rhythms, particularly in the cardiovascular system. The study suggests that this disruption can lead to a range of health problems, including impaired heart function and an increased risk of disease.
Researchers found that the 'twenty-four' gene is critical for producing a key clock protein in fruit flies. Without this gene, flies experience disrupted sleep-wake rhythms and have trouble waking up. The findings suggest a similar mechanism may be at play in humans.
Scientists have identified a 24-hour internal clock in red blood cells, which works independently of DNA and gene activity. This discovery sheds light on the ancient mechanism that controls daily and seasonal activities across all living organisms.
Researchers analyzed the air traffic controller's schedule and found he was performing at 71% of his effectiveness due to fatigue. The study suggests using mathematical models to predict fatigue and optimize schedules, leading to reduced risk of accidents in various 24/7 operations.
The Scripps Research Institute has been awarded $3.17 million over four years to develop compounds that counteract disruptions of the human biological clock, associated with sleep disorders and bipolar disease. The grant supports research on nuclear receptors, a promising drug target for various diseases.
A team of researchers from Brandeis University and University of Nevada, Reno has discovered genes in C. elegans that exhibit gene expression oscillations with 24-hour cycles, shedding light on the mammalian circadian clock. This finding has significant implications for studying human disease genes through corresponding worm genes.
Researchers identified a plant clock gene that works in human cells and vice versa, with similar function. The study suggests convergent evolution as the explanation for this phenomenon, highlighting the importance of maintaining accurate circadian rhythms in both plants and humans.
Research published in FASEB Journal suggests that a fetal liver gene called Npas2 is a key regulator of the circadian system, which is altered by maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy. Improving diet can partially restore circadian machinery and reduce risk of childhood diseases related to obesity.
Researchers at UCI discovered that circadian rhythms directly control PPAR-gamma, a protein essential for lipid metabolism. The discovery could lead to new pharmaceuticals targeting the specific amino acid on PPAR-gamma, offering a singular target for drug development.
Researchers have discovered a mechanism in green algae that allows its internal clock to synchronize with the day/night cycle despite large fluctuations in light intensity. The study found that the algae's clock is reset when it becomes out of phase, making it immune to strong daylight fluctuations.
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that depression is associated with increased activity of the Clock gene, which regulates circadian rhythm. This finding could lead to personalized treatment approaches for people with depression, such as light therapy or antidepressants targeting melatonin.
Temperature fluctuations have a profound impact on the human body's internal clock. By regulating body temperature, these cyclic changes set the timing of cellular activity, influencing metabolism and sleep patterns. This discovery suggests an ancient mechanism that may have evolved in other organisms to control daily biological cycles.
Researchers have found that rod cells in the retina play a crucial role in setting internal biological clocks, even in low light conditions. This discovery has important implications for understanding circadian rhythms and sleep disorders, particularly in older adults who may lose their rod cells to age.
Research highlights the connection between circadian rhythms and affective disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. The study found that disrupted circadian rhythms can lead to sleep disturbances, hormonal imbalances, and other health issues.
A recent study has discovered that even brief periods of light exposure can significantly impact a fungus's biological functions, including reproduction, pigmentation, DNA repair, and stress response. The research also found that specific metabolic pathways can be directly activated by light in this fungus.
A human study found an association between dysregulation of circadian clock genes and chronic drinking. Lower levels of mRNA in these genes were observed in alcohol-dependent patients, indicating disrupted circadian rhythm.
A study in mice with disrupted circadian rhythms found that triglyceride levels remain high throughout the day, unlike normal mice whose levels peak at night. The researchers suggest that activities disrupting the circadian rhythm may have real consequences for lipid metabolism.
Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center finds that extended daylight hours in spring delay melatonin onset, leading to teen sleep deprivation. Teenagers should increase morning daylight exposure year-round and decrease evening daylight exposure to ensure sufficient sleep before school.
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that disrupting two genes controlling circadian rhythms can lead to diabetes. The researchers discovered that mice with defective CLOCK and BMAL1 genes developed pancreatic cells unable to release sufficient amounts of insulin, leading to diabetes.
A new study suggests that exercise can reduce alcohol intake in humans by stimulating brain reward pathways and regulating circadian rhythms. Exercise may provide a beneficial alternative to reducing alcohol consumption, with the 'lazier' hamsters having a greater craving for alcohol when restricted from exercising.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a direct link between the pancreas' molecular clock and insulin production, highlighting its role in regulating glucose homeostasis. The findings suggest that faulty clocks may contribute to the development of diabetes.
A new study found that caffeine can help shift workers make fewer mistakes and improve their performance in tasks such as driving and neuropsychological tests. The researchers reviewed data from 13 trials studying the effects of caffeine on shift work and found a significant reduction in errors made by participants.
A new study finds that some immortal cancer cells have functioning biological clocks, but these clocks don't regulate cell division. This could lead to the development of new anti-cancer therapies by targeting the biological clock pathway.
Researchers have discovered how cyanobacteria's rate of cell division is regulated by the same circadian clocks that control human sleep patterns. The study found that cells divide once per day at specific points in the 24-hour cycle, with implications for understanding cellular renewal and cancer.
Researchers identified a key protein that controls bacterial cell division and found the biological clock's role in regulating this process. The study's findings provide insights into the evolution of circadian clocks between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Research finds that fruit flies' nutrient storage and consumption are controlled by opposing clocks in neurons and the fat body. The study reveals a complex interplay between metabolic signals and circadian rhythms, with implications for understanding human metabolism and disease.
Scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that tiny molecules called miRNAs play a crucial role in regulating our internal clock. This finding has significant implications for treating sleep deprivation and other disorders related to the daily life cycle.
A study published in PNAS reveals that food intake plays a crucial role in regulating liver gene expression, rather than the body's circadian clock. The findings suggest that consistent feeding schedules can have a significant impact on metabolism and may help explain why shift workers are more prone to metabolic syndrome.
A PLoS ONE study suggests that hydrogen peroxide, produced by mitochondria as a by-product of oxygen combustion, may act as a signal molecule regulating daily rhythms and behavior. The research found dramatic effects on fruit fly activity levels and daily rhythms when exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have identified a gene called nocte that interferes with the fly's ability to synchronize its body clock using temperature signals. Disabling this gene prevents both synchronization to light-dark cycles and temperature changes.
Researchers discovered that Drosophila's brain circadian clock neurons require information from peripheral tissues to synchronize with temperature cycles. Disruption of key gene nocte in peripheral cells interferes with temperature synchronization, highlighting the chordotonal organs as crucial temperature receptors.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a new mechanism for regulating the circadian rhythm in chickens' eyes, which could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The discovery involves microRNA-26a, a small RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in controlling the activity ...
The study reveals a conserved phosphorylation site in CRY1 that allows nutrients to directly alter the rhythm of peripheral clocks. Genetic inactivation of AMPK blocks these effects, confirming that cryptochromes act as energy sensors for circadian clocks.
New research shows that daily fluctuations in glucocorticoids directly synchronize the biological clock and regulate blood sugar levels. This finding may help doctors reduce debilitating side effects of glucocorticoid drugs and aid diabetics in controlling their blood sugar levels.
Researchers at UMass Medical School have discovered that monarch butterflies use their antennae to navigate towards Mexico, contradicting previous assumptions that the brain played a primary role. The study found that removing or blocking the antennae impaired the butterflies' ability to orient themselves correctly.
A new study has found that genes regulating insulin also alter the timing of the circadian clock, suggesting novel therapies for metabolic disease. Hundreds of genes were identified as affecting the clock's timing, with seven genes involved in insulin control also influencing its rhythms.
A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has discovered that individual cells isolated from the biological clock can keep a 24-hour rhythm, but they are unreliable on their own. The cells must communicate with each other to establish a coherent daily cycle.
A study found that chemotherapy impairs sleep-wake activity rhythms in breast cancer patients, leading to shorter days and disrupted biological clocks. The disruption worsens with repeated chemotherapy cycles, highlighting the need for routine screening and management of sleep disturbances.
A study with hamsters shows that chronic alcohol consumption blunts the biological clock's ability to synchronize daily activities to light. The research suggests that this disruption can have long-lasting effects on the body's internal clock, even after withdrawal from alcohol.
Researchers discovered that insect circadian rhythms affect pesticide susceptibility, with defenses strongest during mid-day and weakest around dawn or dusk. This knowledge may lead to improved pest control strategies and reduced pesticide use.