A Biological Clock
Every living thing has what scientists call a biological clock that controls behavior.
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It tells insects when to leave the protective cocoons and fly away, and it tells animals and human beings when to eat, sleep and wake.
Events outside the plant and animal affect the actions of some biological clocks. Scientists recently found, for example, that a tiny animal changes the color of its fur because of the number of hours of daylight. In the short days of winter, its fur becomes white.
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German scientists found that some kind of internal clock seems to order birds to begin their long migration flight twice each year. Birds prevented from flying become restless when it is time for the trip, but they become calm again when the time of the flight has ended.
Scientists say they are beginning to learn which parts of the brain contain biological clocks. An American researcher, Martin Moorhead, said a small group of cells near the front of the brain seems to control the timing of some of our actions.
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Scientists say there probably are other biological clock cells that control other body activities.
Dr. Moorhead is studying how our biological clocks affect the way we do our work. For example, most of us have great difficulty if we must often change to different work hours.
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Dr. Moorhead said industrial officials should have a better understanding of biological clocks and how they affect workers. He said such understanding could cut sickness and accidents at work and would help increase a factory"s, production.
A. These cells tell a person when to awaken, when to sleep and when to seek food.
B. Inner signals control other biological clocks.
C. The biological clock tells plants when to form flowers and when the flowers should open.
D. It can take many days for a human body to accept the major change in work hours.
E. The reason why there is a biological clock is not confirmed.
F. The fur becomes gray brown in color in the longer hours of daylight in summer.