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Circadian Rhythms

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the evolution and role of circadian rhythms, the so-called body clock influencing a daily cycle of physical, behavioural and mental changes.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the evolution and role of Circadian Rhythms, the so-called body clock that influences an organism's daily cycle of physical, behavioural and mental changes. The rhythms are generated within organisms and also in response to external stimuli, mainly light and darkness. They are found throughout the living world, from bacteria to plants, fungi to animals and, in humans, are noticed most clearly in sleep patterns.

With

Russell Foster
Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at the University of Oxford

Debra Skene
Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Surrey

And

Steve Jones
Emeritus Professor of Genetics at University College London.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Thu 17 Dec 2015 21:30

LINKS AND FURTHER READING

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READING LIST:

Russell G. Foster and Leon Kreitzman, Seasons of Life: The Biological Rhythms That Enable Living Things to Thrive and Survive (Profile Books, 2009)

Russell G. Foster and Leon Kreitzman, The Rhythms Of Life: The Biological Clocks That Control the Daily Lives of Every Living Thing (Profile Books, 2004)

Jim Horne, Sleepfaring: A Journey through the Science of Sleep (Oxford University Press, 2006)Μύ

Penelope A. Lewis, The Secret World of Sleep: The Surprising Science of the Mind at Rest (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013)

Steven W. Lockley and Russell G. Foster, Sleep: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2012)

Paul Martin, Counting Sheep: The Science and Pleasures of Sleep and Dreams (First published 2002; Flamingo 2010)

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Melvyn Bragg
Interviewed Guest Russell Foster
Interviewed Guest Debra Skene
Interviewed Guest Steve Jones
Producer Simon Tillotson

Broadcasts

  • Thu 17 Dec 2015 09:00
  • Thu 17 Dec 2015 21:30

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