University of California study uses blue-green algae to show importance of circadian rhythm

Scientists at the University of California in San Diego have found behaviors are regulated by the circadian clock and when these behaviors are irregular, it increases an individual's risk of disease, according to a university-issued press release.

The researchers used cyanobacteria—also known as blue-green algae—to identify the roots of behavior that are regulated by circadian rhythm, according to the press release. 

"I think this paper demonstrates the importance of having internal biological time coincide with environmental time,” Susan Golden, senior co-author of the study, said in the press release. "There are lots of human illnesses in which people are poorly aligned to their environment. This can result from habits such as getting too much light at night, eating at odd times of the day and not sleeping regularly. In the cyanobacterium, it makes a very big difference for biological time and external environment time to be aligned."

The researches said the study shows the importance of keeping your internal biological clock and the environment aligned.

Golden, Division of Biological Sciences Associate Project Scientist Arnaud Taton and senior co-author James Golden published their findings in Nature Communications.