© 2004 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Chronobiology: Biological Timekeeping
1 Department of Zoology Oregon State University 3029 Cordley Hall Corvallis, Oregon 97331 E-mail: giebultj{at}science.oregonstate.edu
Chronobiology: Biological Timekeeping. JAY C. DUNLAP, JENNIFER J. LOROS, AND PATRICIA J. DECOURSEY, EDS. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts, 2003, 382 p., 278 illustrations. (ISBN 0-87893-149-X $77.95).
Chronobiology is a fascinating field that deals with biological rhythms from their molecular and cellular basis to their impact on the behavior and physiology of whole organisms. For many years, this field has deserved a comprehensive text which examines the impressive progress in the understanding of the timekeeping mechanisms. However, this very progress deterred many scientists from the task of writing a book; one could easily argue that any summary of a fast moving field will be outdated before its publication. Finally, this great need for a book on biological rhythms has been satisfied with the arrival of "Chronobiology: Biological Timekeeping." This book is the brainchild of two editors, Jay Dunlap and Jennifer Loros; the final product is a collaborative effort from several specialists in the field with predominant contributions from Pat DeCoursey, a passionate chronobiologist striving to understand the adaptive evolutionary significance of biological timing.
The book contains a delightful blend of historical background, current scientific discoveries, and their relevance for everyday-life. An extensive introduction sets the stage for more detailed coverage of important topics such as the fundamental properties of circadian (daily) rhythms, circannual rhythms and photoperiodism, physiological and molecular aspects of circadian pacemaker systems and their output rhythms. The narrative form of headings and subheadings within each chapter provides an instant summary of the content, enabling a student to rapidly locate specific sections of interest. Abundant examples of animals with unique life histories make this book a fascinating read for any biologist.
Resulting from its broad scope, the book provides somewhat limited detail with regard to molecular basis of the clock function in model organisms; only 3 pages are dedicated to the core clock mechanism in Drosophila. Readers that desire a more detailed coverage of molecular clock aspects may now satiate their appetites with a second book entitled "Molecular Biology of Circadian Rhythms" recently published by John Wiley & Sons, in which an entire chapter is dedicated to the Drosophila molecular clock.
The final two chapters of the book discuss human circadian organization and the relevance of circadian rhythms for human welfare. Readers are made aware that ignoring our circadian clocks may have dangerous consequences. This reviewer actually became a data point in statistics showing high accident rates at nighttime by ending up in a roadside ditch at 4 AM while driving into the airport to catch an early flight! The book promotes awareness that human disregard for physiological needs, especially rest and sleep, leads to both small and large-scale disasters, such as the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
This superbly edited, richly illustrated book would be properly employed as a textbook for courses focused on chronobiology. Because biological rhythms can be found in all kinds of species, the book also serves as a non-technical primer for scientists and general students of ecology, physiology, neuroscience, or psychology. Finally, the book is a great resource for scientists chipping away at the particular aspects of clock mechanism who may want to take a step back and gain a broader chronobiological perspective. In summary, this fascinating synthesis of the field should find a wide audience and become a useful resource on biological timing for many years to come.
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