Circadian Rhythms

Abstract

Every time one wakes up minutes before the alarm clock is set to go off, it seems logical to imagine that there must be a time-keeping mechanism inside us. And that is indeed the case. Circadian rhythms (circa: around, diem: day) are biological rhythms with a period of approximately 24h and have been described from cyanobacteria to humans. Their presence clearly confers an immense adaptive value to organisms, allowing them to anticipate the daily changes in light and temperature generated by the rotation of our planet, and to adjust their behaviors and physiology accordingly. Circadian rhythms have the ability to persist in constant conditions and are not affected by moderate temperature changes.