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Weird Clocks .. Weird or Wonderful?

By Laraine Rose

How nice it would be to leave clocks and watches behind, never again to be troubled by their incessant ticks and alarms!

However, no matter where you go on this planet, there are certain clocks from which there is no escape. They started ticking when you were just a tiny fetus in the womb. They stop only when you draw your last breath.

Scientists call these our biological clocks, or circadian (meaning ‘about a day’), rhythms. Failure to abide by our clocks’ schedule often results in problems for us.

The Biological Clocks

Do you find yourself getting sleepy at night? One reason for this is that your body temperature rises and falls according to a definite pattern or rhythm. At night your temperature begins to drop. But as morning nears, it rises again, and soon you are awake, ready for activity. Do you get hungry near mealtime? Well, your pulse, blood pressure, and sugar levels are timed according to certain biological rhythms.

Actually, medical scientists have discovered that invisible clocks govern over a hundred different cycles in our bodies. And interestingly, many of these clocks synchronize with yet another sophisticated timekeeping system: the rotation of planet Earth. As our planet whirls on its axis, it subjects every living thing on it to regular rhythms of temperature and light change. So as one writer put it: “It is not surprising . . . to discover that the behavior and metabolism of most organisms follow a 24-hour schedule.”

Researchers have tried to fool these internal clocks by placing life forms in a laboratory setting, keeping the temperature, light, food, and sound constant. Invariably, though, the 24-hour rhythms persist! This shows us that the circadian clocks are internal, even though some external influences can affect or even upset them to a degree.

Upsetting the Clocks

Right now your body’s clocks are probably adjusted to the time zone in which you live. However, afternoon in California, U.S.A., is nighttime in Europe. Therefore, after flying on a jet aircraft between these two points, you might experience headaches, sluggishness, and sleep problems—a condition commonly known as jet lag.

What has happened? Your biological clock has become confused. It is desperately trying to adhere to your home schedule. (Shift workers often experience similarly disagreeable symptoms.) Business plans, conferences, or even the pleasure of a vacation can be adversely affected by the headaches, insomnia, irritability, digestive problems, and fatigue that jet lag often brings.

Interestingly, such problems did not occur in the days of slower transportation. The body’s clocks had time to adjust to a new time zone before the traveler ever arrived at his destination. But with jet travel, one can cross four or five time zones in only a matter of hours. This can throw your eating and sleeping schedule completely out of order! As you can imagine, this is particularly troublesome for airline personnel.

Clocks in Other Living Things

Of course, man is not the only living creature endowed with built-in clocks.

Swallows: Return each spring to Capistrano, California, U.S.A., on time.

Oysters: Open their shells at high tide and close them at low tide, regardless of the coastal areas.

Bees: Train their own internal clocks to be at the right place at the right time to reap their honey harvest.

Tinamou: Three-hour bird” of Panama sings every three hours, day and night. You can set your watch by it.

Flicker woodpecker of Canada and the United States: One was observed to quit its activities on schedule at 3:35 each afternoon without fail.

Salmon: Internal clocks indicate time to return from the sea to the river where they were spawned.

Palolo worms in the Fiji Islands: Surface and begin their reproductive activities as dawn breaks on nights of third quarter of moon during months of October and November.

Fiddler crabs: Have a precise 24-hour schedule of turning dark during day and pale at night. Color changes are geared to the sun and feeding habits to the moon.

Why, so well timed is the appearance of grunion (fish) on Southern California beaches for their ‘mating dance’ that newspapers publish the precise time of their arrival. Even certain microscopic algae have a 24-hour rhythm, giving off a phosphorescent glow for 12 hours of the night.

It is good to remember that it was not until the 1940’s that men began to recognize the phenomena of biological clocks. In their excitement at their discoveries, some scientists often forget the obvious - that there is a Designer of these wonders. He surely is the One who best understands the workings of living clocks. After all, he set them ticking!

Contributor's Note

Biological clocks, or circadian rhythms, are not to be confused with what are commonly called biorhythms.

All photos are from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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I am thinking back to when I worked night shifts, long ago. I did not feel well for the duration of that employment. It was my biological clock, no doubt. Thanks for clarifying these issues.

Most others I have known working the night shift have told me the same. My hubby worked evenings at one time and it was hard on his health. Thank you for commenting.

You did a great job of researching all this information Laraine, and for putting it together for an easy read. I found it a fascinating read; I didn't realize how complex it is and how it affects life on earth. And we take it allfor granted! All credit to the Designer who made it all possible.

Amen to that, Barb. Thank you for commenting.

Circadian rhythms are not set in stone unless the subjects have a very limited area of domicile or an excellent appreciation of all the other rhythms around them. These rhythms are like part of an orchestra playing the concerto of life.
Since I cut my meals down to one a day, I have discovered that there is no difficulty in eating that one meal simply when I am hungry. The only thing that seems to affect my day is that my dogs get fed twice a day and their learned habbit of eating at the same times has a direct effect upon my freedom of movement.

One meal a day? I'd be very crabby if I didn't get my 3 square meals a day.

Or perhaps I could just have one meal a day if, it were all day long. :)

Thanks for your comments. jk
Laraine

You've pointed out some interesting facts on other living things. Having just watched 'March of the Penguins" again recently makes me wonder how much the internal clock affects their actions. It's amazing how the mothers return in time to feed the young ones.

I enjoyed watching 'March of the Penguins' also. I felt both mother and father penguins have a tough job. Amazing creatures indeed.

I appreciate your reading .. and comments. Thank you.
Laraine

Fabulous intel and I especially like the California grunion and California sparrow photos. Brings back fond memories of staying up late, running down to the shore seeing their mating dance and catching them with our bare hands. The return of the swallows is lovely, too. Thanks so much for this marvelous piece of writing Laraine.

I got to know a little about these little fish and birds on my trips to California. One of my favorite places .. California beaches.

Thank you for your positive feedback.
Laraine

Thanks, Keith. I appreciate your comments AND!! the rating!!
Laraine

Thank you for sharing this interesting 5***** intel, Laraine. Back in my youth, in the 1950's,I worked from 4PM until 2AM 5 days a week in a factory. Didn't leave much time to interact with friends and family.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes.
Frederick

I wonder how this schedule affected your sleeping habits. Did you get used to sleeping in the daytime? My hubby had a time when he worked what they called "swing-shift," every week he was on a different time schedule. THAT, was very hard on his health.
Thank you for your comments, friend.
Laraine

All the above makes it hard to accept it all happened through evolution. It's not down to mere 'chance'. Excellent article Laraine.

I don't believe in evolution either. Consider this earth and our solar system, and, beyond this, the wonders of the universe, its glory, beauty, unity and unlimited expanse. Consider all of this, and a person with a reasonable mind must admit that there is a Creator, and that His wisdom, knowledge, power and eternity are far superior to anyone and anything else in cosmic space.
Thank you for your comment, Geoff

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