01:146:295 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Circadian Rhythm, Optic Chiasm, Universal Windows Platform Apps

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• Course: 01:146:295
• Professor: schjott

Document Summary

Scn is part of brain regulating this. Suprachiasmatic nucleus(scn): controls release of melatonin(melatonin makes you sleepy based on time of day -light or dark) Scn is part of hypothalamus, above optic chiasm, theres 2. Neurons in scn are biological clocks that keeps time on an appx 24 hour cycle (depends on person) Has neg feedback cycle: protein inhibits transcription of its own gene. More protein more inhibition till it shuts down. Eventually inhibition is relieved and the cycle restarts. The cycle is appx 24 hours hence they fxn as small clocks. There"s other clock genes in plants bacteria, blue-green algae and yeast: old system for form of life that evolved. If off: each day shifts one hour eventually you won"t be awake when there"s light out. Retinal input is the way the scn keeps on track with 24 hr cycle on earth. Retina gets actual light which allows this.