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Circadian Clocks: Mastering Your Body’s Natural Rhythm

Explore the biological processes that drive your body’s circadian rhythm to boost your sleep, energy, and focus.

Fantasy illustration, a clock that is on the side of a wall, small clocks as leaves, twist of time, in the flow of time, a leaf on the middle with day on left side, night on right side.

Circadian Clocks: Mastering Your Body’s Natural Rhythm

  • 4 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    2 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

Discover how biological rhythms shape your health and well-being

Your body operates on a natural 24-hour cycle that regulates everything from sleep patterns to energy levels, but common disruptors like jet lag, shift work, and irregular schedules can easily throw it off balance.

Explore the biological mechanisms behind this vital system on this flexible, online course from Taipei Medical University.

In just four weeks, you’ll uncover the science of circadian rhythms and discover how they shape sleep, energy, and metabolism – giving you the tools to optimise your health and enhance your daily performance.

Get to know circadian clocks on the molecular level

You’ll begin this course by exploring the molecular biology behind your body’s internal clock, learning how genes, proteins, and biochemical processes work together to regulate circadian rhythms.

Grasp the mechanisms behind your circadian clock

You’ll then explore the biological mechanisms that regulate your circadian rhythms, including the role of genetic circuits and time-delayed negative feedback.

Through an in-depth look at key proteins and molecular pathways, you’ll uncover how these intricate processes help synchronise your body’s internal clock with the external environment, keeping vital functions in balance.

Unpack the influence of individual chronotypes

You’ll finally, delve into how your chronotypes – your body’s natural sleep-wake cycles – affect circadian rhythms and the role of external cues (e.g. light) in clock synchronisation.

As you explore intricate inner workings and fascinating phenomena, like social jet lag, you’ll apply mathematical modelling techniques to study circadian clocks and gain insights into the latest research from Taipei Medical University.

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Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Biology of the Circadian Clock

    • A chalk drawing clock on the balckboard

      Biology of the Circadian Clock

      This session explores the circadian clock, an intrinsic 24-hour rhythm that is genetic, autonomous, and persists across generations and environments.

    • A sunflower with a bee on it

      Decoding Circadian Rhythms

      We will explore the biological basis of the circadian clock using doubleplot actograms to understand genetically persistent rhythms.

  • Week 2

    Time-Delayed Negative Feedback

    • a yellow flower on the dynny day

      Time-Delayed Feedback in Circadian Rhythm

      Time-delayed negative feedback involves a system where output affects input after a delay, stabilizing fluctuations and promoting equilibrium.

    • a close up of a clock on a green surface, clock iconography,

      Genetic Circuits and Time-Delayed Negative Feedback in Circadian Clocks

      We will explore how mutations in the PER gene affect circadian rhythms through time-delayed feedback.

  • Week 3

    Synchronization of the Circadian Clocks

    • a close up of a clock with roman numerals, temporal super resolution, in search of lost time, the flow of time

      The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus and Circadian Clock Synchronization

      n this session, we will explore how the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) orchestrates circadian rhythms and synchronizes body clocks across organisms.

    • an hourglass on the table

      SCN Synchronization and Its Role in Circadian Rhythm

      In this session, we will explore how phase differences and spontaneous synchronization in the SCN regulate circadian rhythms, coordinating body-wide clocks.

  • Week 4

    Entrainment and Chronotypes

    • a park bench sitting in the middle of a forest, grassy autumn park outdoor

      Entrainment and Chronotypes

      Entrainment and Chronotypes

    • a puppet sleeping on a pillow

      Understanding Circadian Rhythms and Chronotypes

      Explore how light influences our internal clocks, the biological diversity of chronotypes, and the phenomenon of social jet lag.

    • A  cup of Late coffee next to a laptop on the table

      Courses feedback and further learning

      Courses feedback and further learning

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify and describe the molecular components of the circadian clock.
  • Analyze the role of ultrasensitivity and time-delayed negative feedback in circadian rhythm generation.
  • Investigate the mechanisms of clock synchronization in organisms and populations.
  • Evaluate the impact of chronotypes on circadian rhythm variations and entrainment.
  • Apply mathematical modeling techniques to study the circadian clock.
  • Discuss the practical applications of circadian clock research in public health.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone curious about the science behind your body’s internal clock and how it impacts health, sleep, and daily life.

Whether you’re a student, a health professional, or simply interested in biology, you’ll gain insights into the molecular rhythms that shape our world.

Who will you learn with?

Jihwan Myung

Associate Professor
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Taipei Medical University

Who developed the course?

Taipei Medical University

Taipei Medical University

Taipei Medical University (TMU) has been a leader in Taiwan’s healthcare system for over half a century due to its research, teaching excellence, internationalization and outstanding medical service.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 6 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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