Mammalian Chronobiology (U01073)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : BMS-4-NSmchr

Chronobiology is the study of biological timing (biological rhythms) in organisms. This course will address methods for the study and analysis of rhythmic phenomena in animals and in humans, with an emphasis on circadian rhythms (regular cycles of physiology, metabolism and behaviour, with a period of about 24 hours, which persist in the absence of environmental cues). Circadian rhythms are a fundamental property of almost all organisms, from bacteria to man. In mammals, the master clock driving circadian rhythms resides within the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the brain. In addition to their relevance to shift workers and long-distance travellers, there is overwhelming evidence that daily variations of human physiology (including heartbeat frequency, blood pressure, body temperature, renal activity, liver metabolism, and the secretion of many hormones), as well as the incidence and severity of many diseases, have an underlying circadian basis. Topics to be covered include: the principles underlying the function of biological clocks at the level of molecules, cells and whole organisms; the differences between the circadian clocks of humans, other mammals and invertebrates; clocks in peripheral organs and their importance in metabolism; seasonal rhythms and the relevance of circadian rhythms to human physiology and disease. The course will consist of introductory lectures covering different aspects of chronobiology, visits to laboratories in which rhythms are monitored in man and in other species and 'journal clubs' in which students are given a paper or selection of papers to present and these form the basis of a discussion.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Directors of Studies must contact the Programme Secretary or Programme Organiser for Honours Neuroscience before registering a student for this course. Priority is given to Honours Neuroscience students.