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dc.contributor.authorWood, Shona Hiedi
dc.date.accessioned2019-02-07T13:45:45Z
dc.date.available2019-02-07T13:45:45Z
dc.date.issued2018-10
dc.description.abstractLife in seasonally changing environments is challenging. Biological systems have to not only respond directly to the environment, but also schedule life history events in anticipation of seasonal changes. The cellular and molecular basis of how these events are scheduled is unknown. Cellular decision-making processes in response to signals above certain thresholds regularly occur i.e. cellular fate determination, apoptosis and firing of action potentials. Binary switches, the result of cellular decision-making processes, are defined as a change in phenotype between two stable states. A recent study presents evidence of a binary switch operating in the pars tuberalis (PT) of the pituitary, seemingly timing seasonal reproduction in sheep. Though, how a binary switch would allow for anticipation of seasonal environmental changes, not just direct responsiveness, is unclear. The purpose of this review is to assess the evidence for a binary switching mechanism timing seasonal reproduction and to hypothesize how a binary switch would allow biological processes to be timed over weeks to years. I draw parallels with mechanisms used in development, cell fate determination and seasonal timing in plants. I propose that the adult PT is a plastic tissue, showing a seasonal cycle of cellular differentiation, and that the underlying processes are likely to be epigenetic. Therefore, considering the mechanisms behind adult cellular plasticity offers a framework to hypothesize how a long-term timer functions within the PT.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipTromsø forskningsstiftelseen_US
dc.descriptionAccepted manuscript version of the following article: Wood, S.H. (2018). How can a binary switch within the pars tuberalis control seasonal timing of reproduction? <i>Journal of Endocrinology, 239</i>(1), R13-R25. Published version available at <a href=https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-18-0177> https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-18-0177</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.citationWood, S.H. (2018). How can a binary switch within the pars tuberalis control seasonal timing of reproduction? <i>Journal of Endocrinology, 239</i>(1), R13-R25. https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-18-0177en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 1624725
dc.identifier.doi10.1530/JOE-18-0177
dc.identifier.issn0022-0795
dc.identifier.issn1479-6805
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/14646
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherBioScientificaen_US
dc.relation.journalJournal of Endocrinology
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.subjectVDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Marine biology: 497en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Marinbiologi: 497en_US
dc.subjectpars tuberalisen_US
dc.subjectbinary switchesen_US
dc.subjectseasonalen_US
dc.subjecttimingen_US
dc.titleHow can a binary switch within the pars tuberalis control seasonal timing of reproduction?en_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


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