How does the body know when to switch? 5'-AMP is the signal. I believe it's the same metabolic system, whether we are talking about hibernation or not. |
These animals dig deep burrows. They are constantly in the dark. Why not darkness as a switch? |
This is the first example of a gene that is turned on by darkness, where darkness itself is a signal. Twelve hours of darkness didn't do the job; it had to be at least 48 hours. |