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Science 9 October 1970:
Vol. 170. no. 3954, pp. 190 - 193
DOI: 10.1126/science.170.3954.190
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Articles

Extraretinal Light Perception: Entrainment of the Biological Clock Controlling Lizard Locomotor Activity

Herbert Underwood 1 and Michael Menaker 1

1 Department of Zoology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin 78712

The circadian activity rhythm of the iguanid lizard Sceloporus olivaceus can be entrained by light cycles whether or not the animals have eyes. Removal of the pineal organ and parietal eye in blinded lizards does not prevent entrainment. Our data demonstrate the existence of an extraretinal photoreceptor which can mediate entrainment of a biological clock in reptiles.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Circadian Rhythm: Population of Interacting Neurons.
J. W. Jacklet and J. Geronimo (1971)
Science 174, 299-302
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Photosensitivity of the Circadian Rhythm and of Visual Receptors in Carotenoid-Depleted Drosophila.
W. F. Zimmerman and T. H. Goldsmith (1971)
Science 171, 1167-1169
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)