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Jet lag
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H Yaghubi *   , P Yaghubpour , F Azadi |
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Abstract: (16965 Views) |
| The body’s 24-hour clock controls a multitude of internal functions
such as periods of sleep and wakefullness, body temperature, and
metabolism. Although circadian function produces a stable rhythm
in the body, the biological clock will reset in response to light. The
human condition known as Jet lag takes place during the period
when the body attempts to resynchronize to the environmental light
changes brought on by travel, namely from one time zone to
another. Rapid travel across more than 2 time zones causes Jetlag
disorders. The signs and symptoms of Jet lag include fatigue and
weekness, headache, insomnia and day time sleepiness and gastro
intestinal disorders, which disappear after a few days, but
physiologic processes may take up to 14 days to completely adjust
to the new zone.
A mutant fruitfly that possesses Jetlag-like behaviors enabled
Sehgal, Phd professor of Nevroscience at Penn, and colleagues to
identify the gene and subsequent protein that aids in the response
of the internal biobgical clock to light. Future studies in the Sehgal
lab will focus on continuing to identify other molecules required for
light response in files which may be conserved in humans. Clock
responds to light and it may be able to be designed to treat jet lag. |
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| Keywords: Jetlag, Internal clock, Insomnia, JET protein, Fruitfly |
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Full-Text [PDF 255 kb]
(3755 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Original |
Received: 2012/03/7 | Revised: 2014/06/3 | Accepted: 2014/06/3 | Published: 2014/06/3
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