Chronobiology is a science that in its modern form began to take shape recently - around the 60s. But very soon, research in this area was curtailed, and the results achieved are hidden from the masses of people.
Meanwhile, chronobiology investigated very important patterns of life of living organisms.
The central position of chronobiology
One of the central provisions of this science is this: all living organisms are a kind of watch, and the change of their states (for example, sleep and wakefulness) occurs in accordance with certain rhythms. This can be illustrated by examples.
Many plants open flowers in the morning and close when dark. From the side it seems that the flowers open in the light; however, if at night the plant is brought into a lighted room, the petals will remain closed. So, sunlight itself has nothing to do with it. The plant somehow “knows” when morning comes and when night.
Amazing cases of chronobiology
There are more surprising cases. In the Moscow zoo, kangaroos are brought in at the worst of times - in winter. At this moment, summer comes to their homeland. That is, somehow the kangaroos raised in captivity have the idea that in their “historical homeland” a summer period has come that is favorable for reproduction.
Human life is also subject to certain rhythms.So, the body is “programmed” to the fact that during the day you need to stay awake and sleep at night. A normally developed organism is also “aware” of the change of seasons.
Violation of these rhythms can lead to serious consequences. It is noted that if the bear is woken up in the middle of winter, it can die, and not from cold or hunger. A tree that bloomed for some reason in the fall is also doomed. Non-observance by a person of the daily regimen can lead to mental deviations, and in advanced cases, to death. A similar phenomenon is often used in special prisons as torture.
That's just where exactly in biological organisms these biological clocks are laid, science does not yet know. Research in this area has curtailed.
