Articles tagged with Biological Rhythms
A recent study found that a biological clock gene in honeybees is more active in older bees, especially foragers who perform jobs outside the hive. The discovery suggests molecular connections between the division of labor and biological clocks in social insects.
A genetic mutation in the tau gene has been identified as the cause of a 20-hour day in hamsters. The discovery reveals that the enzyme CK1ε plays a crucial role in regulating the circadian rhythm, and offers new opportunities for developing drugs to control the biological clock in humans.
A strain of mutant flies with a crippled light-reactive pigment maintains a steady clock under constant light. The fly cryptochrome dCRY is the only photoreceptor molecule regulating the fly's circadian rhythm.
Research reveals airline pilots experience a 10-fold increase in skin cancer rates, with international routes and longer flights posing the greatest risk. Lifestyle factors like sunbathing may also contribute to the higher incidence of skin cancer among long-haul pilots.
UCSD researchers successfully integrated electronic neuron within a group of biological neurons, demonstrating the potential for restoring brain function. The key finding was the simplification of mathematical algorithms, allowing for a radical reduction in variables to control a neuron's overall function.
A new study reveals that genetic mechanisms controlling the biological clock are also involved in cocaine sensitization in fruit flies. The research provides valuable insights into the development of treatments for cocaine addiction and may lead to discoveries about other physiological processes controlled by so-called 'clock' genes.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a critical protein called cryptochrome that assists per in regulating the mammalian clock's feedback loop. This finding effectively closes the gap in understanding the mechanisms behind human sleep-wake cycles and their disruptions.
A study led by Charles A. Czeisler found that healthy older adults tend to wake up earlier due to restricted sleep hours relative to their circadian period, similar to younger individuals. The study suggests that age does not inherently shorten the human circadian period.
Aging hamsters who received a new biological clock had their lifespan increased by 20%, proving the importance of circadian rhythms to health and longevity. Behavioural modifications, such as structured light-dark cycles, may achieve similar benefits in humans.
A team of scientists has discovered a genetic mechanism controlling the inner workings of the biological clock, which also drives bodily rhythms such as temperature, blood pressure, hormones, and sleep-wake cycles. The findings may lead to more efficacious treatments for diseases like heart attacks and asthma.
Researchers have identified a cluster of three genes, kaiABC, that are integral components of the feedback loop driving circadian rhythms in cyanobacteria. The levels of KaiC gene expression increase during daytime and decrease at night, but an overabundance can shift the timing of the clock.
University of Wisconsin Medical School researchers found that two connected brain structures control the way light affects rodent sleep activity, separate from the biological clock. The structures are part of the visual system and can override normal circadian rhythms with acute lighting changes.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a new component of the circadian clock, BMAL1, which partners with CLOCK to regulate daily rhythms. The study shows how closely conserved genes are between different organisms and hopes to shed light on the negative feedback part of the circadian loop.
Researchers at UNC Health Care have discovered two proteins, CRY1 and CRY2, which help regulate circadian rhythms. These proteins were found in layers of the retina not involved in forming visual images, and their presence may help set the daily clock from sites in skin cells.
Vanderbilt University biologist Carl Johnson's research finds that internal clocks in humans and lower organisms are entrained by both artificial and natural light. The human biological clock speeds up with age, leading to early wake-up times and sleep disruptions, while napping is an innate function.
Researchers found that chronic stress influenced daily activity rhythms and induced depressive-like behavior changes in mice. Exercise was more pronounced in animals without running wheels, suggesting its protective properties against stress effects.
A UPMC study found that people think more slowly at night due to increased information-processing requirements. After losing a night of sleep, participants showed a slowing in the speed of information processing during the day.
Researchers identify key signaling pathway involving glutamate, nitric oxide and CREB that resets biological clocks in animals. A five-minute flash of light can permanently alter gene expression and adjust daily rhythms.