中文摘要：

生物钟是生命对地球以24小时为周期的环境变化长期适应而演化的内在计时机制。生物钟是生命最普遍的基本特征之一。生物钟系统与体内其他系统,如神经系统有着相互影响的密切关系。生物钟生物学作为最重要的时间生物学分支,研究生物钟的调节机制以及生物钟对基本的生命过程和活动的调节机制,在医药、农业等有着广泛的应用。综述了生物钟生物学近年来的研究进展,尤其是生物钟生物学近年在中国的发展状况。

英文摘要：

Circadian clocks are endogenous time-keeping mechanisms evolved from long-term adaptation of life to daily changes of environmental factors on the Earth, and ubiquitous as one of the basic life themes. The circadian clock system is interwined with other organ systems such as the nervous system in the body, wherein they mutually affect each other. Circadian biology as one of the most important branches of chronobiology deals with mechanisms underlying how circadian clocks operate and circadian regulation of fundamental life processes and activities, and plays extensive roles in medicine, pharmacology and agriculture. Here the recent progresses in circadian biology and particularly recent developments of circadian biology in China are reviewed.