Rhythm in biology - it is a very interesting phenomenon.Many scientists now engaged in the research of this phenomenon.Rhythm in biology - is a universal process with respect to all living organisms.In this you will see by reading this article.
principle of the unity of the organism and the environment is one of the principles of modern science.All living organisms, as well as supraorganismal system, making unity with the environment in which they live, have a rhythm all of its processes.Vital functions of their subordinate periodic rhythms that reflect a response to the rhythms of the entire universe as a whole (geophysical, astronomical), as well as nature.
PYSokolov, a Russian sociologist, said that the entire flora and fauna, and with it the people constantly and eternally experiencing the effects of the physical world and meets the rhythmic pulsing responses to the beating pulse of the world.
What are biological rhythms?
consider in detail the concept of interest to us.Biological rhythms are repetitive changes in the nature and intensity of biological phenomena and processes.These batch processes have a wide range of frequencies.They are found at every level of the organization of living systems.The biosystem harder, so it has a greater number of biorhythms.They are fixed on the genetic level.Rhythm in biology - a phenomenon that is very important for the adaptation and natural selection of organisms.
Its presence is due to the timing of biochemical processes.Since the living organism is a hierarchical system, it needs to be balanced with the synchronization operation of its various subsystems and levels not only in time but also in the biological space.
In this article you will learn more about what a rhythm in biology.Manifestations, properties, examples will be discussed below.
Chronobiology: the emergence and development
science that studies the biological rhythms, called chronobiology.It is well known since ancient times that the petals and leaves of plants, depending on the time of day to perform certain movements.Linnaeus even in 1745 invented the "flower clock" (pictured below), allowing to determine the time of closing of colors and become loose.
In the first half of the 19th century were conducted the first study of circadian rhythms have a person such as body temperature, frequency of urination and heart rate.Textbooks on the physiology of this period there are indications of the existence of rhythmic functions, which are endogenous, i.e. arise in the organism.In 1936, the final set was endogenous circadian rhythms of plants and flowers.For this purpose, any external forces applied to them were eliminated.
Other milestones in the development of science of chronobiology - the opening of the orientation of birds and bees in flight by the sun, proof of the human body endogenous circadian rhythms.A new impetus was given to this science as a result of space research.As before, the main interest of scientists in the study of biological rhythms research is annual, lunar and diurnal rhythms.
rhythms of physiological and adaptive
are the following classification in terms of the interaction between environment and body.
- adaptive rhythms (biorhythms) - vibrations is made with a period close to the most important geophysical cycles.Their role is to adapt a variety of organisms to environmental changes that occur periodically.Their frequency is stable.
- physiological rhythms (workers) - fluctuations that reflect the activities of physiological systems of an organism.Their frequency varies considerably and depends on the condition of the body.
Rhythms of exogenous and endogenous
rhythms of nature origin are divided into exogenous and endogenous.Exogenous - the body's response to environmental changes.Endogenous arise as a result of self-regulatory processes with delayed feedback.They are thus exposed environmental influences which can affect their amplitude and phase shift biorhythms.
Rhythms of biosystem levels of the organization and frequency
Rhythms are also divided on the levels of organization of a particular biosystem.They are divided into the biosphere, population, organism, organ and cell.
At its frequency they are:
- rhythms of high frequency (from a fraction of a second to 30 minutes);
- average (from 30 minutes to 28 hours);
- mezoritmami (from 28 hours to 7 days);
- makroritmami (from 20 days to one year);
- megaritmami (periodicity - ten years).
Nature biorhythms
living organism, according to the most common hypothesis is an independent oscillatory system, characterized by a set of rhythms, internally connected.Cycles metabolism (metabolism and catabolism) in the cells continuously occur.It is a complex of different biochemical reactions - synthesis and breakdown of substances.In the cells as a consequence, in accordance with the metabolic cycles are continuously occurring changes in concentrations of various substances (metabolites, enzymes and matrix transfer RNA, etc.) Involved in the biochemical reactions.The parameters of the internal environment of biological systems as a result of these reactions make continuous fluctuations, departing from the averages.
In living organisms sensors that determine the nature and rate of metabolic processes are allosteric modulators of hormones and supporting rhythm in biology.It is they continuously monitor the condition of the body.And it tends to maintain the constancy (homeostasis) internal environment - pH, temperature, osmotic pressure, and other substance concentration. Many mechanisms are involved in the maintenance of homeostasis.They are based mainly on the principle of feedback.For example, the excess blood glucose triggers storing of the substance (in the form of glycogen).On the contrary, the lack of it leads to increased glycogen breakdown.
conclusion from this, you can do the following.In living organisms, no process is continuous.It should certainly be alternated with the direction opposite: work with relaxation, breath exhale, synthesis cleavage, waking sleeping, and so on. D. Status of the living organism, thus, can not be static.It is characterized by a term such as rhythm.Determining whether this property is a living organism can be produced even by simple observation.You may notice that some (actually all) of its energy and physiological parameters are always in a position to commit fluctuations both in amplitude and frequency relative to the average values.
Such fluctuations and there biorhythms.With the help of these organisms provide stability of its thermodynamic state.Allows you to successfully adapt to the environment, it is the rhythm of cyclical changes.The definition of this phenomenon we cited earlier in this article.
internal clock
optional external sensor time synchronization system with a high degree of consistency of all its subsystems.In the development of the body's innate sequencer functions in time it is modified, allowing it to adapt to the temporal profile of the environment.Such a body is able to "predict" the time of day.This allows it to connect a variety of pre-effectors, which are included in the response immediately.For example, the body temperature, as well as plasma levels of corticosteroids in normal sleep begins long before his graduation to rise.So awakening sometimes occurs before the light turns on.
Here are other examples of rhythm.Only those organisms survive the process of natural selection, which has the ability not just to catch in the wild variety of changes, but also adjust to the beat of external vibrations your rhythm machine.For example, the animals alternate rhythms of wakefulness and sleep, so it helps to ensure favorable conditions for the production of food.The nature of the reproductive system (periods of infertility and fertility) is also adapted to the environmental conditions are the most optimal to raise offspring.Many birds fly south in the fall.This is one example of how the rhythm manifested.Biology knows and many other examples.So, hibernate some animals.This enables them to survive in spite of the fact that the external environmental conditions are extreme.
Daily biorhythms
circadian rhythmicity in biology - what is it?Let's face it.For daily (circadian) biorhythms are such phenomena and changes in the nature and intensity of biological processes, the frequency of repetition which is 24 ± 4 hours.Most of the physiological and biochemical processes of metabolism, movement, development, growth, subject to these rhythms, which are caused by the circadian (daily) rhythm of the environment.It, in turn, related to the rotation around the axis of the planet.Examples of such processes metabolic rate, body temperature variation, the frequency of cell division.For all of them characterized by a daily rhythm.
Biology - the science that studies not only animals but also plants.The latter, in particular, are observed at night rhythm cycles lowering and closing of the leaves of flowers.During the day they open.The rhythms are retained even when the sunlight is not available.This was confirmed by his experiments SEShnol, Russian biophysicist.He gave the example of beans mayor.Its leaves rose and fell in the morning and evening, even if the plant is in a dark room.It felt as though time and internal physiological clock define it.
Plants usually the duration of the day is determined by the transition from one form to another pigment phytochrome for variations of sunlight (its spectral composition).For example, the sun at sunset is red because red light has the longest wavelength and smaller than the blue, scattered.At twilight or sunset light a lot of red and infrared radiation.This perceive plants, showing the daily rhythm.
Biology - the science, which to date has gained a lot of experience observing the different animals.It has been found in particular that the alternation of the periods of rest and activity of the animals (day and night) also relates to circadian rhythms.For them, the timing is important not absolute but relative.They need to know when the sun will rise and sit, as being day to search for food use of the light of day and night - dark.
give an example - look at the daily rhythm of dwelling on the Atlantic coast fiddler crabs.It changes its color, showing the daily rhythm.Biology - the science, which, like others, to identify patterns.For what crab changes its color?Let's face it.
Crab morning lighter, but when the sun rises above the horizon, it becomes darker.Playing the role of a protective pigment protects the fiddler crabs from the scorching rays of the sun.If it is low tide, then it helps to be a dark color on coastal sand unnoticed.And it is there in search of food sent to the crab.
circadian rhythm in humans
About 300 physiological functions that have daily rhythms observed in the human body.Body weight, based on the human circadian system, is a maximum of 18-19 hours, respiratory rate - 13-16 hours, heart rate - 15-16 hours, blood levels of red blood cells - in 11-12 hours, leukocytes - 21-23 hours, and so on. d.
Mental processes are accelerated and slowed down in the evening in the morning.On the rhythms of mental and physiological functions, in turn, affects the change of wakefulness and sleep, rest and activity.It depends on many factors during wakefulness performance curve parameters: the level of motivation, food intake, the overall situation, personality type, and so on. D.
term "desynchronosis" indicate a violation in a biological system time ordering rhythms.The study of its mechanisms is of great importance in the organization of work and rest of the staff, in carrying out various preventive measures aimed at protecting health.Desinhroz, in particular, is seen in individuals who have made long distance flights (4-5 time zones), by changing the mode from day to night, and the astronauts in the commission of space flight.
Lunar biorhythms
Tsirkalunarnye (lunar) biorhythms - rhythms whose period is an average of 29.53 days.These rhythms in biology correspond to the lunar-month cycle, that is, the cycle of moon phases.
In many geophysical processes affect the frequency of rotation of the moon around the planet.For example, changing a light by night, temperature, air pressure, magnetic field of the earth, the wind direction.All these phenomena for tsirkalunarnyh rhythms are temporary pointers.
marine organisms have found the most impressive examples of how these rhythms influence the life processes.For example, marine worms Palolo living on coral reefs, in October and November, the final ten days of the lunar cycle, and thus at a certain time of day, the water separates its back, which is filled with the products of the reproductive system.It is necessary for procreation.
lunar cycles with periods of fertility and fertilization can not only be synodic (as in the previous example).There are also sigisic intervals of 14.7 days.For example, one type of fish found on the shore of the Gulf of California, the full moon and new moon (at high tide) lays eggs on the beach.It develops within 14 days on the beach and in the water falls with the next tide.
moonlight, as we have already mentioned, makes the difference illumination at night.This ensures that the activity of the animals that are the evening or night lifestyle changes.Even if we exclude the effect of moonlight in the laboratory, the periodicity tsirkalunarnyh process is maintained.It could be due to other factors related to the lunar cycle.For example, this magnetic field oscillations of the planet.
lunar cycle also affects the growth of plants.This can be illustrated by the yield fluctuations radishes, potatoes and legumes.For a long time, the lunar calendars are used to help determine the optimal time to agricultural activities and planting.
Annual biorhythms
Tsirkannualnye (annual) biorhythms in biology have the oscillation period is 1 year ± 2 months.They are associated with the rotation of the Sun around our planet.
observe these rhythms in all organisms, from tropical to polar zones.Intensity increases with them as latitude increases.Rhythm analysis allowed scientists to conclude that the organisms inhabiting the polar and temperate zones, which are most noticeable seasonal differences, it appears clearly.The basis of the yearly biorhythm comprise, firstly, the adaptive responses that occur in response to a change in the most important parameters of the environment (water mode, quantitative and qualitative food composition, temperature).
Secondly, it is the body's response to the signal environment factors (eg, changes in geomagnetic field intensity, photoperiod, the occurrence of certain chemical components).Manifest annual biorhythms, for example, in the phenomena of migrations, migrations, summer and winter hibernation, reproductive processes, and so on. D.
Many animal hibernation helps to survive the unfavorable period.Surprisingly accurately determine the animals time for her.The bear, for example, always keeps his den on the eve of snowfall.And then he sleeps until April, until the temperature is 12 ° C (ie 5.5 months).At this time, it is supported by the fat accumulated in the fall.Its stock is virtually a third of the body weight of the animal.The body temperature of a bear during hibernation is reduced by about 10 ° C, 3-fold reduced the frequency of his breath.This helps to save vital resources accumulated in warm weather.So the rhythm of the body is manifested bear.If you break the rhythm, and the beast lay down in the den for some reason or suddenly woke up in the middle of winter, he was almost doomed.
