Biological Clock Research Articles

The Relevance of Time in Biological Scaling.

Various phenotypic traits relate to the size of a living system in regular but often disproportionate (allometric) ways. These "biological scaling" relationships have been studied by biologists for over a century, but their causes remain hotly debated. Here, I focus on the patterns and possible causes of the body-mass scaling of the rates/durations of various biological processes and life-history events, i.e., the "pace of life". Many biologists have regarded the rate of metabolism or energy use as the master driver of the "pace of life" and its scaling with body size. Although this "energy perspective" has provided valuable insight, here I argue that a "time perspective" may be equally or even more important. I evaluate various major ways that time may be relevant in biological scaling, including as (1) an independent "fourth dimension" in biological dimensional analyses, (2) a universal "biological clock" that synchronizes various biological rates/durations, (3) a scaling method that uses various biological time periods (allochrony) as scaling metrics, rather than various measures of physical size (allometry), as traditionally performed, (4) an ultimate body-size-related constraint on the rates/timing of biological processes/events that is set by the inevitability of death, and (5) a geological "deep time" approach for viewing the evolution of biological scaling patterns. Although previously proposed universal four-dimensional space-time and "biological clock" views of biological scaling are problematic, novel approaches using allochronic analyses and time perspectives based on size-related rates of individual mortality and species origination/extinction may provide new valuable insights.

Plant Senescence: How Plants Choose, How and When to Die

The word "senescence in plants" refers to the natural ageing process that takes place in plant tissues, organs, and cells and ultimately causes plant death. It is an intricate, tightly controlled process that is affected by both external and internal variables. The internal biological clock of the plant, which is controlled by many external conditions like temperature, light, and nutrition availability, is one of the primary causes of senescence. The internal clock alerts the plant to begin senescing when it reaches a specific age or developmental stage. Several biochemical and physiological changes that the plant experiences during senescence cause the disintegration of cellular elements such as nucleic acids, proteins, chlorophyll and other macromolecules. The plant may continue to grow and develop because these breakdown products are recycled and utilised to create new tissues and organs.
 In addition, the plant generates and stores a variety of signalling chemicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hormones, that control the senescence process. The different physiological and biochemical changes that take place during senescence are coordinated by these signalling molecules, which serve as messengers. Senescence is an ordinary and necessary component of the life cycle of plants, but it can also be brought on early by many environmental challenges, including disease, nutrient inadequacy, and drought. The relevance of comprehending the processes that regulate the senescence procedure is emphasized by the fact that premature senescence can have a major influence on plant growth and productivity.
 The genetically controlled degenerative process of leaf/plant senescence includes nutrient remobilization before the death of leaf/plant tissues. Together with other senescence-causing elements, age plays a significant developmental role in the process. Senescence is regulated at the cellular level by a variety of signalling molecules, hormones, and transcription factors. The complexity of the senescence process, as well as the perception and transmission of senescence signals, as well as subsequent regulatory events, are briefly reviewed in this overview, which also covers current advancements in this area. It will be explored where this field is headed in the future and how related techniques might be used to improve crops.

Effect of chronotype on course of treatment in patients with schizophrenia under long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatment: one-year community mental health center experience.

A chronotype is defined as the behavioral manifestation underlying the biological clock, which is formed by the effects of physical and genetic factors. It has recently been found to be associated with many mental and physical illnesses. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of chronotypes on the treatment course of schizophrenia. This is a clinical retrospective study. The study population was composed of subjects with schizophrenia who received long-acting, injectable antipsychotic medication. The Demographic Data Form, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)were administered to the patients. In addition, the retrospective follow-up files of the patients for the last year were investigated. The obtained data were analyzed statistically. The chronotypes of 97 patients with schizophrenia who volunteered to participate in the study were 38.2% (n = 37) eveningness, 27.8% (n = 27) morningness, and 34% (n = 33) intermediate type. Compared to morningness and intermediate type, eveningness was associated with a higher number of acute exacerbations in patients with schizophrenia, while intermediate type and morningness did not differ significantly from each other. Our study, as a clinical study, supports the relationship between eveningness and poor prognosis in schizophrenia. It may be helpful to consider the chronotype in the clinical follow-up of patients with schizophrenia and to be aware of individuals with the evening chronotype, which is predicted to have a higher risk of exacerbation.

Effects of biological clock gene BMAL1 and hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α on proliferation, migration and radiotherapy sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells HONE1

Objective To understand the effects of clock gene BMAL1 and HIF-1α(Hypoxia inducible factor-1α) on proliferation, migration and sensitivity to radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells HONE1.At the same time, whether the biological clock gene BMAL1 can affect the expression of HIF-1α protein was investigated.It will lay the foundation for further study on the correlation between clock gene BMAL1 and HIF pathway.Methods BMAL1 gene overexpression and interference lentivirus and HIF-1α gene interference lentivirus were constructed respectively, and were transfected into nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells HONE1. Western blot was used to verify the establishment of overexpressed and knockdown BMAL1 cell lines and HIF-1α gene knockdown cell line, and to investigate the expression of HIF-1α protein in overexpressed and knockdown BMAL1 cell lines.CCK-8 cell proliferation test and scratch test were used to analyze the proliferation and migration ability of cells.Cell apoptosis after radiotherapy was analyzed by flow cytometry.The effects of BMAL1 and HIF-1α on the sensitivity of HONE1 radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells after X-ray irradiation at different doses (0Gy, 2Gy, 4Gy, 6Gy) were detected by clone formation assay.Results The overexpression of BMAL1 gene and lentivirus interference were constructed to effectively up regulate and down regulate the expression of BMAL1 protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells HONE1.Meanwhile, HIF-1α gene interference lentivirus was constructed to effectively down-regulate the expression of HIF-1α protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE1, and successfully screen out stable nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines.Western blot results showed that overexpression of BMAL1 gene could inhibit the expression of HIF-1α protein in HONE1 of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, while knockdown of BMAL1 gene promoted the expression of HIF-1α protein in HONE1 of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells(P < 0.05).CCK-8 cell proliferation and scratch test showed that overexpression of BMAL1 gene or knockdown of HIF-1α gene could inhibit the proliferation and migration of HONE1 cells (P < 0.05).Flow cytometry results showed that after 8Gy irradiation for 72 h, the apoptosis rate of BMALl gene overexpression group was higher than that of the overexpression control group, similarly, the apoptosis rate of HIF-1α gene knockdown group was higher than that of the knockdown control group (P < 0.05).After X-ray irradiation at different doses (0Gy, 2Gy, 4Gy, 6Gy), clon-formation experiment showed that the clon-formation rate and cell survival fraction of BMALl overexpression group or HIF-1α knockdown group were lower than those of negative control group (P < 0.05).Sigmaplot analysis showed that the D0, Dq and SF2 of the BMAL1 overexpression group or HIF-1α knockdown group were lower than those of the negative control group, and the radiosensitization ratios were 1.381 and 1.063, respectively.ConclusionOverexpression of BMAL1 gene can inhibit the proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE1, increase apoptosis after radiotherapy and improve radiosensitivity.Knock down HIF-1α Gene can inhibit the proliferation and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HONE1, increase apoptosis after radiotherapy and improve radiosensitivity.In nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells HONE1, overexpression of BMAL1 gene can inhibit the expression of HIF-1α protein while knockdown of BMAL1 gene can promote the expression of HIF-1α protein.

Restored UBE2C expression in islets promotes β-cell regeneration in mice by ubiquitinating PER1.

Insulin deficiency may be due to the reduced proliferation capacity of islet β-cell, contributing to the onset of diabetes. It is therefore imperative to investigate the mechanism of the β-cell regeneration in the islets. NKX6.1, one of the critical β-cell transcription factors, is a pivotal element in β-cell proliferation. The ubiquitin-binding enzyme 2C (UBE2C) was previously reported as one of the downstream molecules of NKX6.1 though the exact function and mechanism of UBE2C in β-cell remain to be elucidated. Here, we determined a subpopulation of islet β-cells highly expressing UBE2C, which proliferate actively. We also discovered that β-cell compensatory proliferation was induced by UBE2C via the cell cycle renewal pathway in weaning and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Moreover, the reduction of β-cell proliferation led to insulin deficiency in βUbe2cKO mice and, therefore, developed type 2 diabetes. UBE2C was found to regulate PER1 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway via its association with a ubiquitin ligase, CUL1. PER1 inhibition rescues UBE2C knockout-induced β-cell growth inhibition both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, overexpression of UBE2C via lentiviral transduction in pancreatic islets was able to relaunch β-cell proliferation in STZ-induced diabetic mice and therefore partially alleviated hyperglycaemia and glucose intolerance. This study indicates that UBE2C positively regulates β-cell proliferation by promoting ubiquitination and degradation of the biological clock suppressor PER1. The beneficial effect of UBE2C on islet β-cell regeneration suggests a promising application in treating diabetic patients with β-cell deficiency.

Cognitive and physical age gaps in relation to mild cognitive impairment and behavioral phenotypes.

We can study how fast our biological aging clocks tick by calculating the difference (i.e., age gaps) between machine learning estimations of biological age and chronological age. While this approach has been increasingly used to study various aspects of aging, few had applied this approach to study cognitive and physical age gaps; not much is known about the behavioral and neurocognitive factors associated with these age gaps. In the present study, we examined these age gaps in relation to behavioral phenotypes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among community-dwelling older adults. Participants (N = 822, Agemean = 67.6) were partitioned into equally-sized training and testing samples. Cognitive and physical age-prediction models were fitted using nine cognitive and eight physical fitness test scores, respectively, within the training samples, and subsequently used to estimate cognitive and physical age gaps for each subject in the testing sample. These age gaps were then compared among those with and without MCI and correlated with 17 behavioral phenotypes in the domains of lifestyle, well-being, and attitudes. Across 5000 random train-test split iterations, we showed that older cognitive age gaps were significantly associated with MCI (versus cognitively normal) and worse outcomes across several well-being and attitude-related measures. Both age gaps were also significantly correlated with each other. These results suggest accelerated cognitive and physical aging were linked to worse well-being and more negative attitudes about the self and others and reinforce the link between cognitive and physical aging. Importantly, we have also validated the use of cognitive age gaps in the diagnosis of MCI.

GWAS of biological aging to find longevity genes in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychotic disorder associated with premature mortality and aging. Moreover, the symptoms and progression of psychiatric disorders in general are associated with decreased lifespan, biological aging, and poorer medical outcomes. In this study, we investigated the relationship between several epigenetic clocks and scanned the entire genome for association in a cohort of SCZ individuals (n = 107). Biological age was computed from blood DNA methylation (DNAm) and tested for association against common variants across thegenomeusinggeneral linear models. Genes affecting epigenetic age acceleration in our cohort were found mainly when using the telomeric lengthclock rather than the other biological clocks. These findings pair with existing evidence that there are some genes associated with longevity and suggest further investigations of putative biological mechanisms for morbidity and premature mortality, not only in patients with SCZ but also in the general population.

Progress in Diseases Related to the Circadian Clock

The intricate set of molecular and cellular activities known as the circadian clock controls a number of physiological processes. These processes are essential for maintaining homeostasis and coordinating biological rhythms with the environment. Recent research has shown that disruption of the circadian clock is related to various diseases, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological diseases. In particular, research related to metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, has gained significant attention due to the alarming increase in the number of individuals with diabetes worldwide. Since animal models have shown that an interruption of the circadian clock results in decreased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, it is imperative to comprehend the molecular mechanisms underlying the circadian rhythm's role in the metabolism of glucose. By highlighting the importance of the circadian clock in the start of cardiovascular illness, recent research have revealed the biological clock's connection to the regulation of cardiac activity. As a result of the disturbance of the circadian clock being linked to an increased risk of cancer and a poor prognosis in cancer patients, research on the circadian clock has also drawn attention in the context of cancer. A deeper understanding of the molecular processes underlying the circadian rhythm and its role in disease etiology may lead to new treatment strategies and interventions.

The research progress for the treatment of circadian rhythm disorder

With the development of The Times, more and more people need to work at night, which is different from the normal biological clock of life, the body’s internal time and external environmental cues, resulting in the disturbance of circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm disruptions are common to many people, and people can suffer from problems like chronic sleep deprivation or insomnia. Not only that, but over time it can lead to a variety of diseases that affect their lives and a greatly reduced sense of happiness. Recent research progress has suggested that patients with other medical conditions can also experience symptoms of circadian rhythm disruption. This suggests that the circadian rhythm disorder and the diseases are connected in two ways. Therefore, research that uses circadian rhythms to treat diseases by altering circadian rhythms will bring benefits to patients. In this review, the author first describes the relationship between circadian rhythm and specific diseases, such as hypertension, glucose metabolism, and immune system disorders, thus demonstrating a bidirectional relationship between circadian rhythm disturbance and many diseases. Then, three therapeutic methods of circadian rhythm disorder, namely light therapy, melatonin therapy and lifestyle change, are discussed, also mentions their combined use. The mechanism of action and therapeutic methods are introduced in detail, and the corresponding clinical data are given. Finally, based on the potential of circadian intervention, the future development possibilities are proposed.

Defusing the legal and ethical minefield of epigenetic applications in the military, defense, and security context

Abstract Epigenetic research has brought several important technological achievements, including identifying epigenetic clocks and signatures, and developing epigenetic editing. The potential military applications of such technologies we discuss are stratifying soldiers’ health, exposure to trauma using epigenetic testing, information about biological clocks, confirming child soldiers’ minor status using epigenetic clocks, and inducing epigenetic modifications in soldiers. These uses could become a reality. This article presents a comprehensive literature review, and analysis by interdisciplinary experts of the scientific, legal, ethical, and societal issues surrounding epigenetics and the military. Notwithstanding the potential benefit from these applications, our findings indicate that the current lack of scientific validation for epigenetic technologies suggests a careful scientific review and the establishment of a robust governance framework before consideration for use in the military. In this article, we highlight general concerns about the application of epigenetic technologies in the military context, especially discrimination and data privacy issues if soldiers are used as research subjects. We also highlight the potential of epigenetic clocks to support child soldiers’ rights and ethical questions about using epigenetic engineering for soldiers’ enhancement and conclude with considerations for an ethical framework for epigenetic applications in the military, defense, and security contexts.

Call Centers and Associated Health Hazard for Women Employees: A Review of Health Implications for Women Employees of Transnational Call Centers in India

Indian women are fast moving from conventional jobs to night-shift jobs in transnational call centers. Women working at night is a relatively new phenomenon and stands apart from the usual Indian lifestyle. Night work and the dual burden of work and family have adverse implications on women employees’ physical and psychological health. The paper highlights the occupational health hazards of women employees of international call centers through a systematic review of 38 articles published between 2000 and 2018. Data and evidence from studies on women employees of international call centers in India reveal that odd working hours against the biological clock make women employees suffer from several health problems. Women were more prone to health problems as compared to their counterparts. The responsibility of balancing work and family leads to high levels of stress. Despite the attractive salary package, most women employees suffer health hazards and psychological disorders.

Determination of Calliphoridae (Insecta: Diptera) Succession on Pig Carcasses in Central Anatolia, Turkey

Insects function as a biological clock in determining the time elapsed after death which is also called minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Particularly, Calliphoridae family members are the first colonizers. Alt-hough the succession behaviors of calliphorids are a potentially useful and accurate tool for determining the time of death, the accuracy of this method has been severely affected by geographical and regional differences in the succes-sion patterns. Therefore, the present study purposes to determine the seasonal activity and succession patterns of Calliphoridae on pig carcasses in Central Anatolia of Turkey and providing the reference data for accurate PMImin determination in forensic cases. The study was conducted in Eskişehir, Sulu Karaağaç Village located in Central Anatolia, Turkey. The study was carried out by collecting samples from twelve pig carcasses left on the field for each months of the year 2011-2012. During the study, Calliphora vicina, Calliphora vomitoria, Chrysomya albiceps, Lu-cilia illustris, Lucilia sericata, Pollenia labialis, and Pollenia rudis which belonging to the Calliphoridae family, were collected. Additionally, their activity on the pig carcasses was observed. Pollenia rudis is firstly recorded from Turkey with this study. This study provides to determine certain PMImin in Turkey and also reference data are pro-vided to solve crimes occurring in different seasons.

Combining biomechanical stimulation and chronobiology: a novel approach for augmented chondrogenesis?

The unique structure and composition of articular cartilage is critical for its physiological function. However, this architecture may get disrupted by degeneration or trauma. Due to the low intrinsic regeneration properties of the tissue, the healing response is generally poor. Low-grade inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis advances cartilage degradation, resulting in pain, immobility, and reduced quality of life. Generating neocartilage using advanced tissue engineering approaches may address these limitations. The biocompatible microenvironment that is suitable for cartilage regeneration may not only rely on cells and scaffolds, but also on the spatial and temporal features of biomechanics. Cell-autonomous biological clocks that generate circadian rhythms in chondrocytes are generally accepted to be indispensable for normal cartilage homeostasis. While the molecular details of the circadian clockwork are increasingly well understood at the cellular level, the mechanisms that enable clock entrainment by biomechanical signals, which are highly relevant in cartilage, are still largely unknown. This narrative review outlines the role of the biomechanical microenvironment to advance cartilage tissue engineering via entraining the molecular circadian clockwork, and highlights how application of this concept may enhance the development and successful translation of biomechanically relevant tissue engineering interventions.

The interaction of endogenous and exogenous factors in the biological rhythms of the Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus in the Primorie waters

Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus is an important commercial species in the waters of Russia and Japan. In the Russian waters of the Japan Sea, regular study of its biology was conducted in the waters of the Primorsky Krai, where annual trawl surveys were performed. Material collections covered the entire calendar year. Endogenous rhythms (internal biological clocks) play a crucial role in the coordination of biorhythms of the Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus. This assumption is confirmed by the different duration of exogenous and endogenous rhythms: the dynamics of the temperature index has a pronounced periodization equal to one astronomical year, and the duration of the mixed rhythms in the dynamics of physiological processes and main components changes with age. The relationship of somatic and generative growth with temperature oscillation is subjected to age-related variability. In juveniles, this relationship is not clearly traceable. At the beginning of puberty period, significant connections are manifested. Then the dependence of growth indicators on the temperature oscillation is reduced, as the selective ability of the Arabesque greenling to choose the temperature range increases. Selective ability to environmental conditions is largely determined not by individual but by group behavior.

Biological clocks as age estimation markers in animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Various biological attributes associated with individual fitness in animals change predictably over the lifespan of an organism. Therefore, the study of animal ecology and the work of conservationists frequently relies upon the ability to assign animals to functionally relevant age classes to model population fitness. Several approaches have been applied to determining individual age and, while these methods have proved useful, they are not without limitations and often lack standardisation or are only applicable to specific species. For these reasons, scientists have explored the potential use of biological clocks towards creating a universal age-determination method. Two biological clocks, tooth layer annulation and otolith layering have found universal appeal. Both methods are highly invasive and most appropriate for post-mortem age-at-death estimation. More recently, attributes of cellular ageing previously explored in humans have been adapted to studying ageing in animals for the use of less-invasive molecular methods for determining age. Here, we review two such methods, assessment of methylation and telomere length, describing (i) what they are, (ii) how they change with age, and providing (iii) a summary and meta-analysis of studies that have explored their utility in animal age determination. We found that both attributes have been studied across multiple vertebrate classes, however, telomere studies were used before methylation studies and telomere length has been modelled in nearly twice as many studies. Telomere length studies included in the review often related changes to stress responses and illustrated that telomere length is sensitive to environmental and social stressors and, in the absence of repair mechanisms such as telomerase or alternative lengthening modes, lacks the ability to recover. Methylation studies, however, while also detecting sensitivity to stressors and toxins, illustrated the ability to recover from such stresses after a period of accelerated ageing, likely due to constitutive expression or reactivation of repair enzymes such as DNA methyl transferases. We also found that both studied attributes have parentally heritable features, but the mode of inheritance differs among taxa and may relate to heterogamy. Our meta-analysis included more than 40 species in common for methylation and telomere length, although both analyses included at least 60 age-estimation models. We found that methylation outperforms telomere length in terms of predictive power evidenced from effect sizes (more than double that observed for telomeres) and smaller prediction intervals. Both methods produced age correlation models using similar sample sizes and were able to classify individuals into young, middle, or old age classes with high accuracy. Our review and meta-analysis illustrate that both methods are well suited to studying age in animals and do not suffer significantly from variation due to differences in the lifespan of the species, genome size, karyotype, or tissue type but rather that quantitative method, patterns of inheritance, and environmental factors should be the main considerations. Thus, provided that complex factors affecting the measured trait can be accounted for, both methylation and telomere length are promising targets to develop as biomarkers for age determination in animals.

Ticking Clocks: Rhetorics of Tenure and (In)Fertility

ABSTRACT This essay initiates a critical conversation about (in)fertility in academia. We argue that four patterns of discourse exacerbate the challenges for women and trans* academics struggling to conceive while navigating so-called “biological clocks” and “tenure clocks” simultaneously: conflicting rhetorics regarding egg quantity and quality in relation to the typical age one starts a tenure-track job; sexist and transphobic rhetorics of fear-mongering in medical and academic settings; rhetorics of silence surrounding the impact of miscarriage, which often accompanies infertility; and cisheterosexist institutional discrimination in the face of exorbitant treatment costs. We use feminist “strategic contemplation” to reflect critically on these patterns of discourse in relation to our lived experiences of (in)fertility. In doing so, we validate those struggling, educate those who are not, and seek a more just reproductive landscape for academic women and trans* people whose clocks are ticking.

CLOCK inhibits the proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells by targeting ASB9

BackgroundClock circadian regulator (CLOCK) is a core factor of the mammalian biological clock system in regulating female fertility and ovarian physiology. However, CLOCK's specific function and molecular mechanism in porcine granulosa cells (GCs) remain unclear. In this study, we focused on CLOCK’s effects on GC proliferation.ResultsCLOCK significantly inhibited cell proliferation in porcine GCs. CLOCK decreased the expression of cell cycle-related genes, including CCNB1, CCNE1, and CDK4 at the mRNA and protein levels. CDKN1A levels were upregulated by CLOCK. ASB9 is a newly-identified target of CLOCK that inhibits GC proliferation; CLOCK binds to the E-box element in the ASB9 promoter.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that CLOCK inhibits the proliferation of porcine ovarian GCs by increasing ASB9 level.

How blue light affect sleep

&#x0D; Many external factors affect human sleep. One of them is visible light. Its effect on the human body consists in synchronizing the biological clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus with the 24-hour solar cycle. The short fraction of light waves perceived by humans as blue waves is the strongest factor that synchronizes the circadian system, which maintains the internal homeostasis of many biological and psychological rhythms. This impact depends on the amount, duration and time of exposure to blue light during the day. Exposure to blue light during the day is important for inhibiting the secretion of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland and playing a key role in entraining the circadian rhythm. While exposure to blue light is essential for maintaining the body's well-being, alertness, and cognitive abilities during the day, chronic exposure to low-intensity blue light right before bedtime can have serious consequences for sleep quality, circadian phase, and cycle duration. That is why the right amount and the right time of exposure to blue light are so important.

Career development: A balance of opportunities and choices.

Career development: A balance of opportunities and choices.

The ticking “biological clock”: Reproductive assistance, costs, and elective fertility preservation in female oncologists and trainees.

11001 Background: Women in medicine are often in training during their peak fertility years. Many women defer childbearing until after training due to career concerns; in consequence, female physicians experience a higher rate of infertility than the general population. Experiences of infertility among female physicians and attitudes towards fertility preservation have not been well described. Methods: A novel 39 question survey was designed after comprehensive literature review to collect cross-sectional data on attitudes toward family planning and utilization of assisted reproductive technology (ART) among self-identified US female oncologists of all career levels. Descriptive statistics summarized frequencies of responses. Results: A total of 1005 responses were collected from female oncologists, of which 811 (81%) were attending/practicing physicians and 194 (19%) were trainees (192 residents/fellows and 2 medical students). 32% reported experiencing infertility. Of these 318 women, 9% reported no out-of-pocket expenses for ART while 39% spent more than $10,000 and 20% spent ≥$30,000. Side effects from infertility treatment required missing work for 22% and another 25% suffered mental health concerns related to infertility. Elective cryopreservation of eggs or embryos was reported by 6% of attendings and 4% of trainees. Among the 25 attendings who reported plans/desire to undergo fertility preservation in the future, most (76%) were unsure of feasibility. This was similarly reported in 72% of the 32 trainees with plans/desire to pursue fertility preservation. More trainees than practicing physicians (73% vs 65%) felt that fertility preservation should be discussed during medical training. Similarly, more trainees than attendings (58% vs 47%) felt that fertility concerns have a negative influence of their decision on when to start a family. While only 5% of all respondents reported using fertility preservation, an additional 6% were planning/considering using it and 21% felt that it would have benefitted them had it been available and affordable during training. Of the group that felt it would have been beneficial, 52% had experienced infertility. Conclusions: A third of surveyed female oncologists report experiencing infertility. Those that seek reproductive assistance can incur significant out of pocket costs with treatment related effects that can disrupt work or cause mental health concerns. Although fertility preservation was used by very few, one in five felt it could have been helpful to them if it was available and affordable. These results underscore the need to better support women in medicine to reduce the impact of infertility for female oncologists.