Variations in Chronobiology - Case Study Example

Chronobiology Paper Introduction Chronobiology is the scientific study of solar and lunar-related rhythms in living organisms. Variations in timing of biological activities in living organisms occur for essential biological processes to take place. In animals, such processes involve feeding, sleeping, mating, migration and hibernation among others. In plants they include photosynthetic reactions, gas exchange, germination, growth, and leaf movements. In microorganisms like fungi and bacteria, the processes involve taxis and sporulations. The most common and important chronobiological rhythm is the circadian rhythm that is found in almost all organisms (Brody 6). Circadian rhythm is approximated to be a 24 hour cycle in the physiology of living organisms. The rhythm can be broken into 3 cycles all based on the 24 hours of the day. First we have the diurnal cycle which involves organisms that are active only during the day. Nocturnal cycle involves organisms that are active during the nights only. Finally crepuscular cycle composes of organisms such as bats that are mainly active during dawn and dusk hours. In most cases, the rhythms are endogenously generated although external factors such as sunlight and temperatures are known to contribute. For example in plants, light is the signaling activator for their internal clocks. Its presence activates opening of stomata for photosynthesis to take place. The rhythms are so important in that they determine sleeping and feeding patterns in all animals. Brains waves, hormones production and cell proliferation among other biological processes are linked to this important cycle. Biological clocks are known to control circadian cycles. Biological clocks are interrelated groups of several cellular molecules in the body (NIH 6). A master clock that contains a group of nerve cells in the brain of mammals is called Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN). It contains over 20,000 nerve cells located in the hypothalamus region that control the circadian rhythms in mammals (NIH 6). Destruction of SCN in mammals results into irregular sleep-awake rhythms. Our research is of experimental design. This experiments main aim is to investigate our daily body rhythms. Pulse rate, eye-hand coordination and adding speeds tests will be carried out. Our hypothesis sates that our bodies have a low biological function during normal rest activity and a high point biological function during normal active day. Materials and Methodology A watch, pen and notebook were the main materials. A columned table with numbers will be used as an instrument to determine the adding speed. Three body function measures (pulse rate, eye-hand coordination and adding speed) at 12 different circadian time points were done for one week duration. Pulse rate measurements were done by placing both the middle and index finger over the carotid artery in the neck for a minute and the rate recorded. For eye hand coordination, using the right hand thumb, counting started from the right hands index finger all the way to the little finger and back again till number 25 reached the index. During the counting, stop watch was used to calculate the used time. Any time an error was done, the count was repeated. The counting was done later after 15 minutes and the results recorded. For the adding speed test, numbers in a column were added and the time used to complete the table noted. Each of the columns was counted in its separate time of the circadian hours. Recordings were done 30 minutes before or after normal waking up or sleeping. Data was recorded without movement from the bed and with minimal movements. Results The table below represents our tested functions as per the circadian time. Eye-hand Coordination Date Time Pulse Time for correct count (sec) Number of trials with mistakes Adding speed (sec) 0000 60 20 6 130 0200 55 15 8 150 0400 60 10 6 120 0600 80 6 1 80 0800 75 6 2 85 1000 72 7 3 90 1200 70 8 4 100 1400 80 7 1 80 1600 75 6 2 95 1800 70 7 3 108 2000 80 6 4 115 2200 65 12 5 125 Graphing Figure 1. Below is a graphical representation of pulse rate against the circadian time. Figure 2. Below is a graphical representation of a number of trials with mistakes against the circadian time. Figure 3. Below is a graphical representation of correct counting against the circadian time. Figure 4. Below is a graphical representation of adding speeds against the circadian time. Discussions Pulse rate results showed that the pulse rate was high during the day time when one is active. Highest levels were recorded after meals that were taken 30 minutes before at breakfast at around 0600 hours, 1400 hours and 2000 hours. Lowest pulse rate was recorded at 0000 hrs the time one was asleep. During sleep, most of the biological activities such as metabolism are low in that less energy is being used. It was noted that one or two hours before a meal when one is hungry, there were low pulse rates. Times for correct counts were lower when compared to night times. Early mornings gave shortest time for correct counts with 6 seconds in that the brains were fresh and free from any disturbances. Upon taking meals, one gained more energy that decreased their counting time too. However, as the light day ended, one became tired and could not be like first as he was during the early mornings. Mid night gave the slowest duration in that it gave 20 seconds. Numbers of counting trials with mistakes were lowest at the morning and during meals with recordings of 1. As the day became older, the number of mistakes increased with highest numbers at midnight when one was deeply asleep. This was because the mind was not all that conscious in that it was not fully rested from the days activities. The mathematic test gave the shortest times during the morning hours recording the least duration of 80 seconds at 0600 hours. On the contrary, the highest duration was recorded at 0200 hours at 150 seconds. It is evident that, at night, the brain is so busy analyzing the day’s activities in its sub-conscious part. Therefore, Scientifically it had been proved that the brain consumes the largest energy amount of the body. In fact, it needs 20% of the bodies blood and 20% amount of oxygen (Picincu 5). A survey wad conducted in Harvard University to determine the importance of sleep. It was found that a deprived brain had no full control of its sensory motors hence one seemed clumsier as the deprivation proceeds (Harvard University 4). As long as one goes without food in the form of fasting and untimed feeding times, the brain is deprived of energy in a form of glucose. It was noted from our results that on taking a meal, the brain was more alert in that it had sufficient energy to cater for its functioning. As one became hungrier, the rate of alertness in the brain decreased (Harvard University 4). Starting from around 2000 hours, our brains are exhausted and full of so many ideas. A tired brain will always have problems in remembering and connecting ideas. That is the the nights before sleeps we have little concentrations and takes a lot of time to solve a simple thing as the mathematical test (Cooper 13). Therefore from our tests, it is evident that human beings obey the circadian rhythms that are approximately 24 hours (Brody 2). Man has been proven to be active during the daylight and as the dark comes, he becomes lesser active. His mental activity reduces as sleep comes in that it the duration the brains are resting. Works Cited  Brody, S. The Genetics of Circadian Rhythms. New York: Academic Press, 2011. Cooper, B. B. Why we are More Creative when we are Tired and 9 other Surprising Facts About Our Brains Work. Accessed on 2013 September 12, 2013, from http://blog.bufferapp.com/10surprising-facts-about-how-our-brain-works Harvard University. Harvard Health Publications. Accessed May 31, 2012, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/ NIH. Circadian Rhythms Fact Sheet. Accessed November 22, 2013, from http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Pages/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.aspx Picincu, A. 7 Interesting Things You Did Not Know About Your Brain. Accessed August 21, 2009, from http://voices.yahoo.com/7-interesting-facts-didnt-know-brain4111883.html?cat=5 Read More