AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -It has been suggested that a circadian rhythm of less than 24 hours predisposes one to the morning chronotype while a longer-than-24-hours clock may make for the ‘night owl’ chronotype. In addition to genetics, the daily routine, age, and other health conditions, may all contribute to the chronotype.

Detailed explanation-2: -For some people, the researchers found what they expected: cells from larks showed shorter periods than those from owls. But they also found that about half of the larks and owls actually had ‘normal’ circadian period lengths.

Detailed explanation-3: -A typical circadian rhythm in humans is one where peak alertness is around 2-3 hours after awakening and 8-9 hours after awakening, and where fatigue is most likely at around 3 AM, if you wake up like most people do at around 7-9 AM in the morning. However, this rhythm is impacted by many factors and it can be shifted.

Detailed explanation-4: -For morning larks, melatonin can rise around 6pm, making them feel tired by 9pm or 10pm. For night owls, melatonin can increase at 10pm/11pm or even later, meaning many aren’t tired until 2am or 3am. Genetics can determine your body clock type, but it’s also largely influenced by schedule and lifestyle.