Daily Rhythms in a Timeless Environment: Circadian Clocks in Astyanax mexicanus

Beale, A.D., and Whitmore, D. (2016) Daily Rhythms in a Timeless Environment: Circadian Clocks in Astyanax mexicanus. In: Keene, Alex C., Yoshizawa, Masato, and McGaugh, Suzanne E., (eds.) Biology and Evolution of the Mexican Cavefish. Elsevier, Waltham, MA, USA, pp. 309-333.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802148...
 
5
1


Abstract

The prevalence of circadian clocks in most organisms on the planet implies they are an adaptive trait; however, only a few studies provide evidence to support this. Animals living in aperiodic environments, such as caves, provide a unique opportunity to address this issue by removing what is thought to be the primary environmental pressure for circadian clocks-the environmental light-dark cycle. Astyanax mexicanus is at the forefront of our understanding of circadian clocks in constant darkness, thanks to studies detailing the extent of the function in cavefish of the core molecular circadian clock and outputs, such as activity and metabolic rhythms. Here we review these studies in detail and put them into context with the wider understanding of clocks in cave animals, to determine the role of circadian clocks in timeless environments.

Item ID: 63130
Item Type: Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN: 9780128023655
Keywords: Astyanax, Circadian, DNA repair, Entrainment, Evolution, Field studies, Light input, Melatonin
Copyright Information: © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Date Deposited: 11 Aug 2022 01:57
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3109 Zoology > 310909 Animal physiology - cell @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page