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Basic Principles Underlying Biological Oscillations and Their Entrainment

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Biological Timekeeping: Clocks, Rhythms and Behaviour

Abstract

Biological oscillators govern life-supporting processes from unicellular organisms to the most complex life forms. The timescales may vary from tidal rhythms to annual rhythms. Here we will focus on the organisation of daily rhythms and the underlying circadian oscillators. The molecular mechanisms of circadian oscillators are discussed for mammals and insects. Different light resetting mechanisms and input pathways of circadian oscillators are explained and used to evaluate basic principles of light entrainment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Theresa Floessner & Roelof A. Hut

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  1. Theresa Floessner
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  2. Roelof A. Hut
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Correspondence to Roelof A. Hut .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Vinod Kumar

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Floessner, T., Hut, R.A. (2017). Basic Principles Underlying Biological Oscillations and Their Entrainment. In: Kumar, V. (eds) Biological Timekeeping: Clocks, Rhythms and Behaviour. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-3688-7_3

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