Every living thing has an inner biological clock that controls behavior. The clock works all the time; even when there are no outside signs to mark the passing of time. The biological clock tells plants when to form flowers and when the flowers should open. It tells insects when to leave the protective cocoon and fly a way. And it tells animals when to eat, sleep and wake. It controls body temperature, the release of some hormones and even dreams. These natural daily events are circadian rhythms.
Man has known about them for thousands of years. But the first scientific observation of circadian rhythms was not made until 1729. In that year French astronomer, Jean-Jacques d"Ortous de Mairan, noted that one of his plants opened it s leaves at the same time every morning, and closed them at the same time every night. The plant did this even when he kept it in a dark place all the time. Later scientists wondered about circadian rhythms in humans. They learned that man"s biological clock actually keeps time with a day of a little less 此文共有13页 上一页 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 下一页 |
