The goal of the proposed research is to investigate the impact of the environment on the post-embryonic development of the circadian system. He plans to use the cockroach as a model system for these studies because of the wealth of background information that is available on the anatomical organization and physiological properties of this animal's circadian system. Preliminary data indicates that specific lighting conditions to which the cockroach is exposed during development can have major effects on properties of the adult circadian system. He plans to further investigate the effects of changing light cycles to determine specifically which properties of the circadian system are affected. Other aspects of the environment, such as temperature may affect the development of the circadian system. They plan to determine if there is a critical period during development when the system is susceptible to various other environmental manipulations. Finally they plan to investigate the functioning of the circadian system in the developing animal. The discovery that the environment of the developing organism can affect the development of the circadian system is most important. Because of the pervasive influence of the biorhythm system on various aspects of behavior and physiology in most animals, the results of these studies will provide basic information on the fundamental question of whether or not the properties of the circadian system that are established during development are susceptible to environmental manipulation.
