Facts about Biological Rhythms and Circadian Clock
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In 1999, Charles Czeisler's lab determined that the average human free-running circadian period is about 24.18 hours, not exactly 24.
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Clock genes such as CLOCK and BMAL1 form a transcription-translation feedback loop that drives circadian rhythms at the cellular level throughout the body.
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Melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland in response to darkness, signals nighttime to the body and plays a key role in regulating sleep onset.
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Cortisol levels follow a circadian pattern, peaking shortly after waking in the morning and dropping to their lowest point around midnight.
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Disruption of circadian rhythms, as seen in shift workers, is associated with increased risks of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.
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The suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus serves as the master circadian clock, synchronizing bodily rhythms to the roughly 24-hour light-dark cycle.