Cavefish Circadian Clocks Don't Need Sun

[self-deleted_user]

NY times article
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/scien ... 1&emc=eta1

Cavefish are ancient, scaleless, live in total darkness and lack any pigment. Now researchers have discovered that they have another unusual feature: a circadian rhythm, or body clock, of 47 hours, about twice the length of most animals, including humans.

Normally, an important factor that helps regulate circadian clocks is sunlight. But the researchers, who reported their findings in the journal PLoS Biology, write that the cavefish’s clock is totally blind to light.

[Phil Winkler]

I wonder what Michel Siffre would have to say about this?

[self-deleted_user]

"I told you so", perhaps?

[wyandottecaver]

Wow, they concluded the cicardian rythym of a cave dwelling species that generally never sees sunlight was independent of the sun....thats what I call science

Measuring the actual period of the rythem, O.K. I'll give them that.

[DeanWiseman]

Wow, they concluded the cicardian rythym of a cave dwelling species that generally never sees sunlight was independent of the sun....thats what I call science

Measuring the actual period of the rythem, O.K. I'll give them that.

What makes this fairly important/interesting is that it may help to identify therapeutic targets in persons with things like Seasonal Affective Disorder, chronic insomnia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Much of what's known about Circadian Rhythm comes from the pineal gland (which some folks joke as the "inner eye" because of similarities in structure), which is exquisitely sensitive to photoperiod (that's why you can stick a person with S.A.D. in front of a bank of bright lights and they will start feeling better).

It's been known for some time that humans have an innate Circadian Rhythm that is slightly longer than 24 hours. But this finding in a fully troglodytic species could "shed light" on specific light-independent mechanisms. Very cool stuff...

-Dean

[JR-Orion]

I wonder what Michel Siffre would have to say about this?

Had to look him up, but that's all sorts of interesting-

http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/30/foer.php

[Phil Winkler]

It was in 1972 and not 1962. A group of cavers from San Antonio went into Midnight Cave after his experiment finished to retrieve gear left behind in his camp and to generally clean things up. I had the honor of carrying a gallon jug of his urine out. No idea what happened to it. Many Texas cavers supported the experiment by camping up top and lowering things down, etc. As I recall he received monetary support from both NASA and the Navy, both of who have interests in this type of living. Submarines, space stations, etc.

[DeanWiseman]

I had the honor of carrying a gallon jug of his urine out. No idea what happened to it.

On somebody's wall, right next to the Abba turd, I'm sure...

-Dean


p.s. Thanks for carrrying it out. I've done similar in Lech, and it's a thankless task, for sure.

[Phil Winkler]

On somebody's wall, right next to the Abba turd, I'm sure...

-Dean
p.s. Thanks for carrrying it out. I've done similar in Lech, and it's a thankless task, for sure.

Now that's funny!

Ediger helped with the project and I wouldn't put it past him to have kept the jug, either.

[nathanroser]

I would gladly haul human waste out of Lech for the chance to go there. As long as it's in a well sealed container.