Biological Clocks

By: Matt Butcher

 What are they?
• “Biological clocks are
internal physical
systems that enable
organisms to live in
harmony with the
rhythms of nature
such as the cycles of
the day and night and
of the seasons”
 What does that mean?
• This basically means that biological clocks
have a great influence on our daily
behavior.
• But we can not understand biological
clocks without first looking at Circadian
Rhythms.
 Circadian Rhythms
• Circadian Rhythms
cue typical daily
behavior even in the
absence of external
cues.
• This demonstrates
that that certain
patterns of behavior
depend on internal
timers.
 Effects on Circadian Rhythms
• Deprivation of external cues: Eg. Sunrise,
Sunset
• Isolation: People will tend to continue to
eat and sleep on a regular but they will
slowly shift away from the norm.
• Drifts that result from isolation only occur
under extreme examples because external
cues reset Rhythms and Clocks.
 Light
• Light is believed to be
the most powerful
synchronizer of
C.Rhythms
• Artificial Indoor light
can reset Rhythms
• Can also reset
C.Rhythms by
keeping Blinds closed
ect
 Jet Lag
• Organisms make use
of differences in
temperature and
other Inputs to adjust
timers.
• When internal clock is
very different from
external time
complete resetting of
clocks can take days.
Biological Clocks in Every Cell?
• Biological clocks can
exist in cells and possibly
even in specific parts of
cells.
• For example scientist
removed an eye from a
sea slug and it kept its
own rhythm.
• When the eye was
returned to the whole
organism it synchronized
with the rest of the slug.
 Biological Clocks in Cells
• Master clocks seem to be located in the
brain.
• Communicate to rest of body through
hormones and different chemicals.
• For example scientist switched brains from
moth pupas on different time schedules.
The pupas then hatched on the opposite
time schedules.
 Biological Clocks in Humans
• It is believed that the
Biological clock in
humans is located in
the Hypothalamus
• The Hypothalamus is
the part of the brain
that regulates the
basic drives such as
hunger, thirst and
sexual desire.
 Melatonin
• Melatonin is believed
to have an effect on
biological clocks and
C.Rhythms
• Believed that the
hormone regulates
Sleep-wake cycles,
fluctuations in body
temperature, heart
rate and blood
pressure.
 More Hormones
Cortisol
• Cortisol: important in the mornings.
• Cortisol hormones rise in the morning just
before waking. Because of the increase of
Cortisol blood glucose levels rise to avert
the potential dangers of not eating or
drinking during the night.
 Conclusions
• Organisms are guided by Biological
clocks.
• Biological clocks and Circadian Rhythms
are regulated by the release of hormones
in the brain.
• Listen to your Biological Clock it might be
right.
The End
 Bibliography
• Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2003
© 1993-2002