Well known experts in the field of Chronobiology from around the world provide an integrative
view of the state of the art of circadian biology. At present genetic and epigenetic
interaction of regulatory pathways among circadian oscillators metabolic networks cellular
differentiation and neuronal communication are subject of intense scrutiny. The book is
organized in three sections: The first includes selected examples of the circadian systems of
crustaceans insects fish birds and mammals. The second is a detailed view of the
physiological mechanisms underlying the circadian clocks in mammals. Finally in the third
section some examples of the relevance of circadian biology and circadian misalignment to
health and disease are provided including nutrition and metabolism obesity cancer
cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases Huntington and affective diseases. This section
concludes with a brief review on gene therapy and its potential use as a therapeutic tool to
correct clock genes pathologies.This book is aimed at all those interested in contemporary
aspects of physiology biochemistry and molecular biology applied to the study and
characterization of timing systems.. It could be used as an initial approach to this field but
it also provides updated information for those already familiar with the fascinating field of
Chronobiology.
