Understanding How Temperature Changes Affect Biological Clocks in Fruit Flies

In order to understand how temperature affects circadian clocks, researchers subjected fruit flies to daily temperature changes that mimic warmer or colder climates. They found that, in warmer temperatures, a group of cells on the dorsal si...de of the brain were important for clock-synchronization. In colder temperatures, however, a group of cells on the ventral side of the brain were more important. It was also found that without the light-receptor, Cryptochrome, the flies were more sensitive to changes in temperature. Research in this area can help further our understanding of the environment on our internal clocks, as well as help develop treatments of sleeping disorders.

Full story: http://phys.org/news/2013-01-jet-lagged-fruit-flies-clues-body.html
Picture credit: http://www.sajo-art.de/Neue%20Website/mainpages/underpages/brennesselgarten_artikel_en.htm