The biological clock phenomenon: Exogenous timing hypothesis
Titel:
The biological clock phenomenon: Exogenous timing hypothesis
Auteur:
Brown, F. A.
Verschenen in:
Biological rhythm research
Paginering:
Jaargang 14 (1983) nr. 2 pagina's 137-162
Jaar:
1983-06
Inhoud:
The underlying basis of biological clocks has completely eluded scholars to the present. Its nature appears as mysterious today as it did at the turn of the century despite the vast efforts by a great many able scholars. W. Pfeffer felt compelled to conclude in 1915 that each organism contained its own completely independent clock system. The bases were his ability to reset the phase of the clock-timed daily rhythms at will together with the observation that in constant light and temperature the period of the rhythms usually assumed some arbitrary value ("free-running") deviating slightly from 24 hours. This conclusion appeared later to be supported by a described light-dependence of the frequency of the free-running, the deviations of Q10's of periods from 1.00, and discovery of genes and chemicals which could alter the free-running period. The vast majority of investigators have adopted this hypothesis and have sought in vain for internal timers with clock properties. A demonstrated high degree of biological sensitivity to very weak atmospheric electromagnetic parameters, together with systematic variations in responsiveness to them with vector directions of the fields and times within the geophysicial cycles, have encouraged an alternative hypothesis namely that the biological clocks are environmentally timed. Phase lability, free-running, light dependence of period, Q10 deviations from 1.00, and genetic and chemical alterations of period are all readily explicable as specific expectations from the phase-responsesystem. Evidence is advanced supporting the hypothesis that the biological clocks depend upon an extraordinary perceptive capacity enabling response to the cycling physical environment. A simple, straightforward experiment is detailed to test for this exogenous view. It involves investigation of free-running rhythms in unvarying light and temperature during slow, systematic east and west translocations to effect “day-length” changes.
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