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Related Concept Videos

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.

Migration

Migration

Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

Osmoregulation in Insects

Osmoregulation in Insects

Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: June 3, 2020

Clocks, cryptochromes and Monarch migrations.

Charalambos P Kyriacou¹

¹Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. cpk@leicester.ac.uk

Journal of Biology

|July 14, 2009

Summary

The Monarch butterfly

Area of Science:

Ecology, evolutionary biology, and genetics.

Background:

The annual migration of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is a significant natural phenomenon.
Understanding the genetic and molecular underpinnings of this complex migratory behavior is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the molecular and neurogenetic factors contributing to the Monarch butterfly's annual migration.

Main Methods:

Analysis of genomic data.
Neurobiological studies on butterfly populations.

Main Results:

Identification of key genes associated with migratory behavior.
Insights into the neural pathways involved in navigation and endurance.

Conclusions:

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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

Published on: November 11, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Circadian Entrainment of Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: June 3, 2020

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

Published on: November 11, 2016

The study provides a foundation for understanding the genetic architecture of migration.

Further research can build upon these findings to explore conservation strategies.