Author: Cell Press, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS
Topic: Marine Science Tick Tock animal with at least two Internal Clocks.
Date of Article: September 26, 2013
Topic: Marine Science Tick Tock animal with at least two Internal Clocks.
Date of Article: September 26, 2013
An animal has been discover with at least two internal clocks (circadian clock mechanisms). Most animals that live in a marine environment/area use internal clocks which interactively help support their daily schedule. The two internal clock isn't just a couple of hours but 24 hours. This article was researched and presented by the two groups "Cell Press journals Current Biology and Cell Reports." Kristin Tessmar-Raible from the Max F. Perutz Laboratories at the University of Vienna and colleagues found some interesting interactions between the 24 circadian clock and the circalunar clock in a marine bristle worm. The bristle worm has this gift of these independent clocks that work daily. Kyriacou and colleagues had a plan to see what would happen if they had sea louse disrupted it. The result was that the 24 circadian clock switched to 12.4 tidal clock that turned on and kept going with time. They kept trying other plans as well, though no matter how much plans they thought of the circadian clock was still working just fine. Even when the researchers disrupted the circadian clock, the two clock mechanism still worked together. The reason is that length plus the strength of the circadian clock's pace was switched to the circalunar clock after being disrupted. The researchers believe that there is some connection between the 24 circadian clock and the
bristle circalunar clock.
bristle circalunar clock.
I chose this article because it gave me curiosity by the title of "Internal Clocks." I wasn't sure at first what the word Internal Clocks mean but after researching the definition I kind of got some ideas on it's meaning. (You want to know? Definition Link - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Internal+clock) I found the most interesting part or information about the article was that circadian clock mechanism doesn't stop it's internal clocks when distracted or disrupted. It doesn't give up no matter what, but instead comes up with another timing plan to switch to 12.4 tidal clock. I also like the how the internal clocks aren't just a couple of hours but it is 24 hours.This circadian clock reminds me of a technology device (i-pod, i-phone, cellphone, etc.) that has a watch in it always telling you the time. Though a circadian clock mechanism is better because it won't stop it's time when something disrupts it. For a device if it gets in water, breaks, or if doesn't have any battery (energy) it won't work.
What I think is going to happen next is that there will be more information and interesting facts about the circadian clock mechanism that will later be discovered. It could be possible that later they discover that the circalunar and circadian clocks are in the same species/family or connected some how to have such similar traits. The researchers may get to figure out how to stop the internal clocks or how the internal clocks function too. I found this article significant because this research of this new animal can lead to something great and helpful in the future. Or it can even help us understand more on how the functions of the clocks work and how we can improve the clock system by taking it to a higher level. I had researching and learning about this new marine animal. I hope you have some knowledge and enjoyed reading this. Thank you!