This article describes “short sleepers,” people with a mutation in the gene hDEC2 that lets them function normally on less than the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. hDEC2 is a gene that regulates the sleep-wake cycle in people. People with this mutation can feel refreshed and awake with an average of four hours of sleep. Geneticists are not yet certain how often this mutation occurs or if it is inherited, but neurology professor Ying-Hui Fu of University of California San Francisco believes that it does not happen often. Individuals with the mutation on hDEC2 are more active than people without the mutation over all. However, if people without this mutation attempt to become “short sleepers” by choice, there can be consequences, such as drowsiness and poor hand-eye coordination. Also, in the long run sleeping less by choice can lead to cardiovascular risks and cancer.
Personally, I wouldn't mind being able to function normally on only four hours of sleep. Also, I wonder if this gene is present often in insomniacs and night owls (i.e. people who stay out late at night).
ReplyDeleteI find this article to be extremely interesting although, I would love to be able to function fully on a just a few hours of sleep. This gene doesn't sound half that bad after all, except for the few side effects that can occur.
ReplyDeleteMost people with the gene do consider it to be a good thing and the side effects are only for people who do not have this mutation and attempt to sleep less on their own. Sounds like a really useful mutation to me!
ReplyDeleteAlthough the article says that people with this "short sleepers" gene are able to function normally with less than 8 hours of sleep and feel "refreshed," does this gene also prevent the physical effects of lacking sleep? Because I know its recommended to receive at least 8 hours of sleep so that your body and brain can physically refresh and repair from daily activities.
ReplyDeleteThis article did get me to think about a lot of things. Also nhan brings up a good question, that with this mutation of a gene is it also giving you the full effects of a full night sleep. Sure you may feel "refreshed" or "wide awake", but what are the overall effects of lessening your bodies needed amount of sleep?
ReplyDeleteI am curious to see if the individuals with the mutation also are at higher risks for disease due to less sleep. Is their life span shorter? Do they experience higher heart disease or other illnesses. It sounds nice, but I am still cautious.
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