Molecular basis of circadian rhythms - Article Example

Molecular Basis of Circadian Rhythms The timing of sleep and wakefulness (circadian rhythm) has long been studiedby molecular biologists. Some researchers and experts of the field stated that this cycle is natural to our brain structures while others claimed that it started with an organism’s gene or cell, the basic unit of life. Other studies also stressed out that the circadian rhythms follow a certain pathway – either through interlocked feedback loops or inter-genic feedback loops. Experts are still investigating the circadian clock as this will help greatly in human’s health, behavior, and attainment of quality life.

In a fast growing world where travelling is essential to many individuals, jet lag is a common denominator among those individuals. Scientifically speaking, this was mainly because of the disruption of the circadian clock. According to the study of Glossop, Lyons & Hardin, the circadian clock worked in an interlocked feedback loops that is further divided into two: a per-tim loop which is activated by dCLK-CYC and repressed by PER-TIM and a dClk loop which is repressed by dCLK-CYC and depressed by PER-TIM (766).

Through these loops, it has been identified that there are five genes necessary for effective circadian rhythm, among of which include the period (per), timeless (tim), Drosophilia Clock (dClk), Cycle (Cyc), and double-time (dbt) (Glossop, Lyons & Hardin, 766). However, nothing can be observed without going through the gene level and oscillating the anatomical structures for sleep and wakefulness. Clock-controlled genes consist of input pathways, oscillator or pacemaker, and output pathways (Cermakian & Corsi, 59).

As stated earlier, initiating circadian rhythm requires oscillation and this can be done only through a pacemaker or oscillator. Oscillation occurs automatically as this is a temporal program. A well-oscillated circadian clock has self-sustained rhythm during its long period, compensated with respect to the abrupt changes in the environment, predominantly exposed to cycles of light, temperature, food availability and predator, and has various difference in the assembly of cellular clocks (Merrow, Spoelstra & Till, 931).

Without this pathways and oscillation, the rhythm of the circadian clock will definitely be disrupted. The study of circadian clock will not only help humans in adaptation but the agriculture and animal industry as well. Experts would be able to condition the organism to environmental changes. Farmers can manipulate the pthosynthetic activity of the plants to match the appropriate season for crop production. On the other hand, breeders could help their animals adapt to the new environment when they were trade for economic reasons; the same applies to humans when they were exposed to areas with different time zones from the usual.

Jet lag could be minimized and betterment of health could be achieved because of well-adaptability.Genetic approaches could make these breakthroughs possible. Through an advanced research of focusing on the molecular biology of the circadian, humans could develop an in-depth understanding of circadian clock – how it varies among humans with different cultures, age, race, seasons, and social pressures. Unlocking the difficulty of the different components, pathways, regulatory functions, mechanisms, and communications will lead to healthy, well-adapted, and productive organism across the globe.

Works CitedCermakian, Nicolas & Corsi, Paolo Sassone. "Multilevel regulation of the circadian clock." Nature Reviews Molecular Biology (2000): 59-67.Glossop, Nick R.J., Lyons, Lisa C. & Hardin, Paul E. "Interlocked feedback loops within the Drosophila Circadian Oscillator." Science Magazine (1999): 766-768.Merrow, Martha, Kamiel, Spoelstra & Roenneberg, Till. "The circadian cycle: daily rhythms from behaviour to genes." European Molecular Biology Organization (2005): 930-935.