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Biological Clocks and Their Synchronizers

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The Study of Time III

Abstract

Biological clocks are interpreted as self-sustained oscillations whose phase can be entrained by an external synchronizer. The prime synchronizer is light, but temperature may occasionally be effective. Other possible factors are also mentioned, and their operation discussed. Circadian, circalunadian and circannual rhythms are described, and the phenomena of frequency multiplication and demultiplication explained. The interaction between exogenous and endogenous rhythms, and the effects of constant ambient conditions are then considered. The synchronization of individual unicellular clocks with their environments, the interactions between cellular clocks within multicellular organisms, and the possible existence of central master clocks, are then discussed. Finally, attention is given to the synchronization of circalunadian and of seasonal rhythms with the natural environment. It is concluded that circadian clocks are probably coupled with circalunadian clocks to measure photoperiod so that seasonal cycles of reproduction, diapause, and other physiological processes, may be synchronized with environmental influences resulting from the movement of the earth in solar orbit.

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Authors
  1. J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Society for the Study of Time, Westport, Connecticut, USA

    J. T. Fraser

  2. Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA

    Nathaniel Lawrence  & David A. Park  & 

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© 1978 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Cloudsley-Thompson, J.L. (1978). Biological Clocks and Their Synchronizers. In: Fraser, J.T., Lawrence, N., Park, D.A. (eds) The Study of Time III. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6287-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6287-9_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6289-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-6287-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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