Ans. Chronobiology is the study of biological rhythms and their effects on living organisms. It focuses on how various physiological and behavioural processes follow a rhythmic pattern in response to internal and external cues, such as the 24-hour cycle of light and dark. Chrono biology examines the influence of these rhythms on various aspects of life, including sleep-wake cycles, hormone production, metabolism, and overall health.

Ans. Chronobiology as a scientific field began to develop in the mid-20th century. The concept of biological rhythms had been observed earlier, but it was in the 1950s and 1960s that researchers such as Franz Halberg and Jürgen Aschoff made significant contributions to the study of chronobiology. They laid the foundation for understanding circadian rhythms and their impact on human and animal physiology. Since then, chronobiology has expanded to encompass a wide range of research areas and continues to advance our understanding of biological timekeeping.