Rare Gene Behind Short Sleepers Found

Every blogger will wish he has this gene! Scientists discovered a rare genetic mutation that allows certain people to sleep on less hours without any adverse effect. In one family, a mother and daughter with this rare mutation needed only six hours of sleep each night while the rest of the family needed the typical 7-8 hours.

Gene for Short Sleeper Found. Image: sxc

Published in Science, researchers from the University of California- San Francisco isolated the gene as DEC2, involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms, the body’s clock. The scientists then bred mice and fruit flies that carried the mutation and found the mutant mice slept less and needed less time to recover from sleep deprivation.

According to health experts, a typical adult needs at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night for the body to function properly. Chronic sleep deprivation has long term effects on our health, relationships, handling of stress and quality of life. Sleep deprivation also increases the risk to injuries, and is responsible for thousands of automobile crashes each year. And if sleep deprived people also harbor a gene called PER3, then they will also have issues with cognitive function.

And bloggers? Ha-ha. It’s common knowledge that we don’t sleep, but maybe someday a drug will be invented from this research that will block the normal gene and help us to sleep less and still feel great the next day. Or at least reset our body clock.

Meantime, this blogger will have to contend with getting enough sleep.

via: Yahoo; Image: sxc