Circadian Rhythms and Biological Clocks

These flashcards cover key vocabulary, concepts, and mechanisms IN DETAIL related to circadian rhythms, biological clocks, and their underlying mechanisms based on the lecture notes.

TTFL

Transcription-Translation Feedback Loop, a mechanism for regulating circadian rhythms.

PTO

Post-Translational Oscillator, a rhythm-generating mechanism that operates independently from transcription.

KaiABC

A cluster of clock genes in cyanobacteria that is essential for generating their circadian rhythm.

CikA

Circadian input kinase that plays a role in the entrainment of cyanobacteria.

Peroxiredoxin (PRX)

A core protein involved in redox cycling that serves as an antioxidant and is associated with circadian rhythms.

SCN

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, a brain region that regulates circadian rhythms by receiving light input.

FAA

Food Anticipatory Activity, the increase in activity of organisms in anticipation of scheduled feeding.

Melatonin

A hormone that regulates circadian rhythms and is influenced by the length of darkness.

Photoperiodism

The physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night.

Circannual rhythms

Seasonal biological rhythms that cycle annually in response to changes in the environment.

Sun compass hypothesis

The idea that birds use the sun's position as a compass for migration.

Inter Bout Arousal (IBA)

Random peaks in activity during hibernation that allow for maintenance of physiological processes.

Redox cycles

The cycles of oxidation and reduction that are integral to various circadian mechanisms in cells.