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Abstract
Our tissues are continuously decaying, and continuously being renewed. Decay and renewal are not equal at all times, but are subject to biological rhythms (circadian variation). Decay, degradation, breakdown or catabolism is maximal during wakefulness, while renewal or anabolism is maximal during sleep. Renewal depends upon protein synthesis, either for the formation of new cells in, for example, the skin; or for replacing the constituents of existing cells in, for example, the brain.