Articles tagged with Biological Rhythms
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered how honeybees manage to visit flowers at the right time and communicate this information to other bees. The study found that a specific peptide called PDF plays a central role in regulating circadian clocks, transferring day-night information to brain areas that control complex ...
Research suggests that melatonin treatments can improve sleep quality, physical health, and mental well-being in older adults. Melatonin deficiency is associated with decreased circadian system robustness and increased risks of age-related diseases.
Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer with a grim prognosis, may be treatable more effectively when administered at specific times of day. Researchers found that the circadian rhythm controls daily rhythms in a key protein associated with tumor growth, and inhibiting its activity can reduce invasive properties.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a circadian rhythm disorder caused by the acceleration of biological clocks. This understanding could lead to the development of new therapeutic alternatives to toxic treatments.
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina found that cancer cells use the unfolded protein response to alter their circadian rhythm, contributing to tumor growth. Misfolded proteins cause disruptions in this natural clockwork, allowing cancer cells to survive conditions that would kill normal cells.
During a total solar eclipse, plants responded differently to changes in light and temperature, challenging circadian rhythm theories. The research team observed varied reactions among four plant species, with some displaying internal clocks that were activated by temperature changes rather than light.
Research in Nature Communications shows that immune responses and regulation of autoimmunity are affected by the time of day when activated, with master circadian gene BMAL1 playing a key role in sensing and acting on time-of-the-day cues to suppress inflammation.
A new study has identified potassium as the critical component of circadian rhythms in red blood cells. Researchers found that varying potassium levels affected the cell's rhythmic activity, with higher levels impeding the rhythm and lower levels extending its duration.
Researchers analyzed 800 million Twitter messages to find strong patterns of positive and negative moods reflecting circadian rhythms. The study also discovered seasonal variations in anger, sadness, and fatigue patterns.
Researchers found that the circadian clock regulates cell division and can act as a tumour suppressor. Disrupted clocks may contribute to cancer development. New findings suggest using chronotherapy to reset the biological clock for optimal therapeutic effects.
A new study demonstrates the use of carefully crafted, ultrafast light pulses to control neuron activity in mice. This technique, called coherent control, could one day help patients with light-sensitive circadian or mood problems by regulating chemical reactions and ion flow.
Fibroblasts' circadian clocks affect wound healing, with slower healing times observed at night. Researchers found that resetting cellular clocks before surgery could help maximize healing outcomes.
Researchers have identified key genes that regulate water-efficient photosynthesis in pineapple and other CAM plants. This breakthrough could lead to improved water use efficiency in C3 crops, allowing them to thrive in environments previously inhospitable to them.
A study found that exposure to environmental toxins can suppress the circadian clock in Daphnia plankton, leading to a loss of daily oscillations. This disruption has significant implications for human health, potentially linking environmental toxins to chronic inflammation and disorders like cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
A Finnish study links individual circadian preference to brain activity patterns during the night, with morning larks showing weaker sleep spindles. Sleep spindle activity decreased more towards the morning hours in these individuals.
Researchers at Michigan State University have identified key genes that helped domesticated potatoes adapt over thousands of years. By studying the ancestors of modern North American cultivated potatoes, scientists uncovered common genes and important pathways that enabled spuds to thrive in diverse environments.
A study published in The Lancet found that moving heart surgery to the afternoon can reduce the risk of heart damage and major cardiac events. Afternoon surgery was associated with a 50% lower risk of major cardiac events compared to morning surgery, suggesting that synchronization with the body's circadian clock may improve outcomes.
Researchers found that smell sensitivity peaks in the late evening and varies over the course of a day, influenced by internal circadian rhythms. This discovery has implications for assessing a patient's sense of smell and may affect food choices and eating behaviors among teens.
A new study by University of Guelph researchers found that female ovarian hormones and a circadian 'clock' molecule protect women's heart health as they age. This discovery may help prevent heart disease in older adults, with implications for both men and women.
Researchers found that gut bacteria regulate lipid uptake by hacking into the circadian clocks in gut cells. The microbiome helps establish the essential molecular link NFIL3, which regulates body composition and metabolism. This discovery may lead to new strategies to fight obesity.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that Leishmania parasite infections are controlled by internal body clocks, leading to varying severities depending on the time of day. The research, led by Professor Nicolas Cermakian, discovered that the immune response is strongest at night, making it an ideal time for the parasite t...
A team of researchers led by Charles Weitz shows that a set of core clock proteins organize into molecular machines that control circadian rhythms. The findings provide a starting point for understanding the clock's machinery and its role in various conditions, including sleep disorders and cancer.
Research found a significant association between financial stress and migraine in individuals with specific CLOCK gene variants. The study suggests that these genetic variants may impair processes that prevent migraine under stress conditions.
Research in mice suggests that eating at abnormal times can weaken the daytime potency of an enzyme protecting against UV radiation, leading to increased risk of sunburn and long-term effects like skin cancer. A normal eating schedule may provide better protection from UV rays during the day.
A new study found that patients who responded to ketamine treatment had increased early morning activity and lower evening activity levels. Altered circadian timekeeping systems may mediate ketamine's effects on mood.
Researchers found that aged stem cells reprogram their circadian functions to focus on tissue repair and stress response, rather than maintenance. A low-calorie diet also preserves the rhythmic functions of stem cells.
A UCI-led study found that a low-calorie diet helps maintain efficient energy processing in cells, which is linked to younger aging. The researchers also discovered that calorie restriction can rejuvenate the biological clock and prevent tissue aging in stem cells.
Researchers found that foraging honeybees and nurse bees have synchronized circadian clocks, despite their constant activity. The study reveals that a functional clock is crucial for these animals, even in environments without day-night cycles.
Exposure to just 10 minutes of light at night suppresses biting behavior and manipulates flight in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. The study suggests pulses of light could be an effective tool to complement established control methods for reducing disease transmission.
Researchers discovered autonomous 12-hour clocks that work independently from 24-hour cycles and can be modified by external factors. Altered 12-hour cycles have been associated with human diseases, such as diabetes and metabolic disorders. The study identified over 3,000 genes that follow 12-hour rhythms.
David F. Dinges, a renowned expert in sleep research, has been awarded the Nathaniel Kleitman Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to advancing sleep science. The award recognizes his extensive work on sleep restriction, circadian biology, and its impact on human physiology and behavior.
Researchers found that delayed meal times significantly affect blood sugar levels, with later meals causing a delay of over 5 hours in internal rhythms. The study suggests that timed meals could be beneficial for individuals with circadian rhythm disorders.
Researchers have discovered a key connection between circadian clocks in the brain and peripheral organs, revealing how they synchronize their rhythms. The study found that a specific neuropeptide pathway enables communication between the central clock in the brain and peripheral clocks in organs like the prothoracic gland.
In a study published in Cell, researchers found that liver size in mice increases by almost half before returning to its initial dimensions. The fluctuations are influenced by the rhythm of food intake and physical activity. The discovery sheds light on how our circadian clock affects liver function.
Researchers discovered that changing the circadian clock in mouse liver alters how the body responds to diet and changes the microbes living in the digestive tract. The study found that mice lacking a specific gene in their liver had different gut microbiomes and responded differently to weight loss diets.
Researchers found that patients with better consciousness levels had body temperature patterns aligned with a healthy 24-hour rhythm. Bright light stimulation improved two patients' conditions, and their circadian body temperature shifted closer to normal.
Research by Mary Carskadon shows that teenagers need more sleep than they get due to conflicting societal expectations. Studies have found that as children age, their circadian rhythms shift later, making it harder for them to wake up early. This can lead to sleep disorders and decreased academic performance.
Researchers at Rockefeller University discovered a genetic mutation in the CRY1 gene that slows the internal biological clock, causing delayed sleep phase disorder. The mutation affects up to 1 in 75 people and can be present in families, with relatives sharing similar signs of persistent sleep problems.
Researchers have identified a novel pathway that allows green algae to reset its circadian clock when exposed to red or violet light. The study reveals the existence of at least two different pathways in algae that sense and respond to different colors of light.
Scientists studied the circadian clocks of two fruit fly species from Finland and Tanzania. Finnish flies adapted their activity pattern to longer days, while Tanzanian flies were influenced by the equator's long daylight hours. The study reveals tiny differences in the flies' brains that affect their behavior.
Researchers developed a computer method called ZeitZeiger that uses genome-wide expression data to predict a person's 'internal' time of day. The method demonstrates accurate predictions using 15 genes from across the human genome, including non-core clock genes.
A subset of genes involved in daily circadian rhythms become active late in life or during intense stress, helping to protect critical life functions. These 'late-life cyclers' may combat serious stresses associated with age, disease, or environmental challenges.
Research found that exposure to natural light for as little as a weekend camping trip can shift the circadian rhythm and potentially deliver health benefits, including improved sleep and reduced seasonal depression. The study suggests that architectural design can incorporate tunable lighting to enhance performance and well-being.
Researchers at RIKEN create genetic knock-out rescue mice to study circadian timekeeping and identify key sites in the CRY1 gene that affect the duration of the circadian period. They find that specific mutations near the p-loop region influence phosphorylation levels, leading to longer or shorter circadian periods.
Research reveals how plants regulate their response to elevated temperatures differently between daytime and nighttime. A plant's response to heat stress is maximized during the hottest part of the day when TOC1 binds to PIF4 inhibiting its activity at night.
Carbon monoxide metabolism is linked to the body's circadian rhythms, and disruption can cause metabolic disorders such as diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Researchers have identified a reciprocal relationship between carbon monoxide production and the body's internal clock.
Researchers found that disrupting the brain's internal clock causes depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. The study provides new evidence on the relationship between circadian rhythms and mood regulation, suggesting a causal link between functioning internal clocks and mood disorders.
Researchers discover that Calcium/Calmodlin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is the main effector behind the adaptation of the circadian clock to geographical environment in marine midges. This protein, also found in humans, may play a role in human chronotypes and neuropsychiatric disorders.
A team of researchers identified three novel proteins that act together on clock neurons to make the clock light responsive. The Quasimodo protein regulates light responses in the fly's clock neurons, controlling the circadian rhythm.
Finnish researchers found that a melatonin receptor gene influences shift workers' ability to adapt to disrupted daily rhythms. A common variation in the MTNR1A gene is linked to job-related exhaustion experienced by shift workers.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a new microfluidic technology to track tens of thousands of cells with single-cell precision. This allows scientists to confirm that many cells have a distinct circadian rhythm and observe individual cells syncing their rhythms over time.
Psychobiotics examines emerging strategies for planting brain-altering bacteria in the gut to provide mental benefits. Researchers agree that key players, including the nervous system and immune system, are involved in the gut-brian axis.
A study published in Cell Metabolism found that varying oxygen levels can reset the circadian clock of mice, which could inform how airlines moderate cabin air pressure. The research also suggests potential benefits for humans, including alleviating jetlag and improving air travel comfort.
Researchers identify peptide allatostatin A in Drosophila that regulates feeding behavior and promotes sleep, with effects comparable to human galanin receptor. The study provides insights into the complex interactions of hunger, sleep and digestion.
A study by Indiana University researchers found that people are more likely to undermine their performance at stressful tasks when they're operating at 'peak capacity' based on their preferred time of the day. This behavior, known as self-handicapping, was more common among morning people in the morning and night owls in the evening.
Plant biologists discovered how sunflowers use their internal circadian clocks to follow the sun during the day as they grow, acting on growth hormones. The plants' ability to track the sun was disrupted when staked or turned away from the sun, and continued even in an indoor growth chamber with a fixed light source.
Researchers found that virus replication increases at certain times of the day, with peak replication occurring in the morning. This suggests that shift workers, whose body clocks are disrupted, may be more prone to viral diseases.
Researchers at UC Davis discovered how sunflowers follow the sun during the day using their internal clock, affecting growth hormones and flower orientation. The study found two growth mechanisms at work in sunflower stems, one driven by light availability and another controlled by the circadian clock.
Reef fish are adapting to higher CO2 levels by changing their circadian rhythms, a key finding from genomic research. The study found that fish can adjust their internal clocks to compensate for elevated night-time CO2, allowing them to survive in altered environments.
Researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that social time cues override light exposure in regulating honeybees' natural body clock. This finding highlights the complexity of clock regulation in natural habitats and has implications for understanding circadian rhythms in other species.