What are the similarities and differences between biological clock and circadian rhythms?

Answer 1

Biological clocks and circadian rhythms are both mechanisms that regulate physiological processes in organisms based on time. A biological clock refers to the internal timing system that can govern various cycles, including circadian rhythms, which specifically operate on a roughly 24-hour cycle. While both serve to synchronize an organism's functions with environmental cues, biological clocks can encompass a range of time scales (e.g., ultradian or infradian rhythms), while circadian rhythms are strictly tied to the day-night cycle. Ultimately, circadian rhythms are a subset of the broader category of biological clocks.