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The Cardinal Edge

Program/Event

Arts and Research Showcase 2025

Abstract

In the modern world, we are exposed to irregular light patterns, which can disturb circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are patterns of behavior that operate on a 24-hour cycle and are regulated by the interactions between external signals and the internal circadian clock, which regulates sleep/wake patterns, feeding and sleep behavior, and resistance to starvation. Little is known about the impact of misalignment of these circadian rhythms as related to dietary composition on the lifespan, behaviors, and physiological changes of Drosophila. We hypothesized that circadian misalignment would significantly reduce lifespan and alter behaviors and physiologies. In this study, mated female Drosophila were exposed to either a control (12L12D) or experimental (10L10D) lighting schedule to investigate how aberrant light cycles affect behavior (sleep, feeding), physiology (starvation resistance, gut permeability, lipid deposition, body weight), and lifespan. Physiological and behavioral changes were studied at 10 days of exposure to aberrant light schedules. Flies were also entrained on multiple diets to understand how dietary composition could result in differential impacts of misalignment. This study indicates that temporal misalignment of the circadian clock in Drosophila significantly decreases lifespan, repatterns sleep architecture, increases total activity, and reduces resistance to starvation. Temporal misalignment also tends to alter gut health, metabolism, and other physiologies. The results of this study suggest that light-driven circadian misalignment could be considered an environmental toxin. Future directions include continued evaluation of the effects of circadian misalignment to best understand the mechanisms by which misalignment alters physiology and behavior.

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