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Asking the Clock: How to Use Information from Questionnaires for Circadian Phenotyping
Céline Vetter1, Eva C Winnebeck2, Till Roenneberg3
1Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|December 7, 2020
Summary
Collecting human circadian clock phenotypes for big data science is challenging. Questionnaires like the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) offer potential but have limitations, requiring consideration of alternative methods.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Big Data Science
- Human Phenotyping
Background:
- The increasing volume of big data necessitates efficient methods for collecting human circadian clock phenotypes.
- Understanding circadian rhythms is crucial for various health and biological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of questionnaires, specifically the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), for characterizing circadian phenotypes in large human cohorts.
- To discuss the potentials and limitations of using questionnaires for circadian phenotype data collection.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ) for its application in large-scale human studies.
- Discussion of questionnaire-based phenotyping versus alternative methodologies for circadian research.
Main Results:
- Questionnaires, exemplified by the MCTQ, present a feasible approach for collecting circadian phenotype data in large populations.
- Limitations exist in questionnaire-based methods, particularly concerning data accuracy and depth compared to objective measures.
Conclusions:
- The MCTQ and similar questionnaires are valuable tools for initial circadian phenotype assessment in big data initiatives.
- The choice of method for circadian phenotyping should be guided by study objectives, cohort size, and resource availability, considering alternatives when necessary.
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