![]() Plants’ clocks prompt their leaves to open during the day and close at night. Even our immune systems operate on a 24-h schedule, guided by the circadian rhythm.Ĭircadian rhythms are not unique to humans: almost every organism on Earth has a biological clock. Body temperature and blood pressure also increase and decrease throughout the day. It determines when we are most alert (mid-morning), when we are most coordinated (early afternoon) and when we have the most muscle strength (late afternoon). It gets the gut ready for food digestion during the day but helps us not to feel hungry when we are asleep at night. ![]() The word circadian comes from the Latin circa and dies, meaning “around the day.” The circadian rhythm aligns our sleep-wake cycle with the light-dark cycle, so that we feel awake during the day and sleepy at night. We call this regular daily cycle the circadian rhythm. Our biological clocks keep near perfect time with the 24-h cycle of light and dark on Earth. Unlike the clocks we are used to, the clocks in our cells have no cogs or gears: they are biological. Every cell in our bodies has its very own clock. Our cells learned to tell the time before we did. How do these clocks work and how do they tell the time? What happens to our clocks if we watch TV late at night or fly to the other side of the world? This article examines these questions and explains the scientific discoveries that have helped us to understand the answers. From when you eat and sleep to your ability to concentrate or run fast, the clocks command all. While you may not even be aware of their existence, these clocks control many aspects your life. The time is set by the rotation of the Earth, so that our bodies are perfectly aligned with night and day. ![]() Did you know that your cells can tell the time? Every cell in your body has its very own clock.
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