Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : Circadian rhythms are hereditary in nature. The genetic information is transferred from the nucleus by mRNAs which might direct the synthesis of particular proteins - this point however is not yet clarified. Circadian rhythms are endogenous, displaying a remarkably stable period and a phase shiftable by environmental factors, acting presumably on some cell membranes. Several theories attempt to account for circadian rhythmicity.