Summary
In populations of the fruitflyDrosophila pseudoobscura reared at constant temperature, first under continuous light, and then transferred to continuous darkness, adult flies emerge from their pupal cases in bursts at 24-hour intervals. A brief pulse of light resets the phase of this circadian rhythm by up to ± 12 hours, depending on its energy and when it is given. A new finding here detailed is that this rhythm's susceptibility to resetting by light pulses of 102 to 104 ergs/cm2 deviates systematically from the strict 24-hour periodism observed with more energetic stimuli: the clock oscillation becomes more sensitive to phase-resetting by light the longer it has been kept in the dark. In three days the sensitivity increases more than tenfold. This change is not due to maturation of the pupae. Though formally described as a “dark-adaptation”, it could represent age-independent changes of pigment concentrations or distributions or a nonperiodic aspect of “clock” dynamics,e.g., marked damping.
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All the laboratory manipulations from mating of flies through punching of final data were competently executed by Miss Ann Thompson. Her conscientious and cheerful assistance was essential.
I am much indebted to Jack D. Cowan and the Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Chicago, for construction of laboratory facilities and freedom to pursue my interests.
These investigations were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Sloane Foundation, and the Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute. The manuscript was written while enjoying the hospitality of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England.
I would be happy to provide cultures of these flies to interested investigators.
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Winfree, A.T. Slow dark-adaptation inDrosophila's circadian clock. J. Comp. Physiol. 77, 418–434 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694944
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694944