Your Body’s Many Biological Clocks

Think your biological clock is just in your head? You actually have thousands of them.

While there is a "master clock" in your brain called the SCN, scientists have

found that almost every organ in your body has its own independent timekeeper. In fact,

estimates suggest that 10% to 20% of the genes in any given tissue are expressed rhythmically.

This means your liver, your heart, and your lungs are all "ticking" on

their own schedules. Health is a delicate balance of keeping these peripheral clocks in sync with

the brain. When they fall out of rhythm—like during shift work or jet lag—it can increase

the risk of serious issues like heart disease and metabolic disorders. Is your body’s orchestra