Circadian Rhythm and its Effects
on the Health of organisms
The Circadian rhythm controls the
biological functions of many organisms this includes plants, animals, and fungi.
This internal mechanism is controlled by the 24hr day and night cycle and is
what determines our sleeping patterns, production of certain hormones and
enzymes, and the expression of some genes.
Dr.
Cavanaugh studied the circadian rhythm and how its disruption affects the body.
He did this by inducing chronic circadian misalignment (CCM) in Drosophila
melanogaster. In his presentation he discussed the effects of CCM and how the
change in induced day and night cycle affected the flies. Dr. Cavanaugh exposed
these flies to light in specific shifts altering their perception of the length
of the day. This resulted in the premature death of the flies. The cause was a
change in production of many different enzymes, and the alteration in gene
expression. These flies adjusted to this change in light exposure and their
behavior was recorded. The flies ended up being active when they were exposed
to light and dormant when placed in darkness.
Dr. Richard
Stevens of University of Connecticut School of Medicine also
studied the negative effects of CCM. He studied the connection between negative
health risks and nightly exposer to light. He states that in other studies that
visually impaired women were at lower risk of breast cancer. This brought up
the question, what are the negative effects of electronics and how their
produced light affects our health. He determined that light of shorter
wavelengths have greater effects on the body than those of longer wavelengths.
This has correlation to the effects of the sun, and how it’s light creates blue
light. This lowers the melatonin produced by the body, disrupting our circadian
rhythm. There were other clinical studies that stated that supplemental
melatonin can slow the growth of tumors as well.
The
connection between CCM and the health of the body and those of other organisms
is apparent. The shortened life span of the flies in Dr. Cavanaugh’s study and
the relationship between cancer and nightly blue light exposure helps to prove
this connection. The change in gene expression and hormone secretion has huge
effects on the health of both humans and other organisms alike.
References:
Stevens, Richard G. “Light-at-Night,
Circadian Disruption and Breast Cancer: Assessment of Existing Evidence.” OUP
Academic, Oxford University Press, 20 Apr. 2009,
academic.oup.com/ije/article/38/4/963/851153.
Cavanaugh, Dan. “(04.16.19) - Dan
Cavanaugh.” Dropbox, 20 Dec. 2018,
www.dropbox.com/sh/yrruoccwcc8fc6i/AABlCXRgo4CIfDdwrpqwOmHra/(04.16.19) - Dan
Cavanaugh?dl=0&preview=boomgarden_cavanaugh_drosophila_jetlag_longevity_gene_expression_BMC_genomics_2019.pdf&subfolder_nav_tracking=1.
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