Colin Snow
Scientists have identified a gene that causes people to naturally sleep less than six and a half hours each night without any apparent ill effects. The gene, called ADRB1, codes for a receptor protein common in a brain region called the dorsal pons, known to regulate sleep. This discovery was made by studying a family who routinely sleep less than the average person. It is the second such finding in recent months.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gene name | CLOCK, BMAL1, DEC2, ADRB1 |
| Number of hours slept by people with the gene | 4.5-6 |
| Number of people studied | 12 family members, 1 mother-daughter pair |
| Location of the gene | Dorsal pons |
| Effects | No apparent ill effects |
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What You'll Learn
- A genetic mutation on the gene DEC2 allows people to need less sleep
- A mutation in the gene ADRB1 allows people to sleep less than six hours without feeling tired
- Certain genes, such as CLOCK and BMAL1, have been linked to the body's circadian rhythm
- Some people need less sleep than others, and researchers are starting to understand why
- People with gene variants that allow them to sleep less are healthy and don't suffer any ill effects
A genetic mutation on the gene DEC2 allows people to need less sleep
In August, Fu's team reported that a mutation in a gene called ADRB1 allows 12 members of a family to sleep as little as 4.5 hours per night without feeling tired. Scientists have also identified a gene that causes people to naturally sleep less than six and a half hours each night without any apparent ill effects. The findings reveal a mechanism affecting quality sleep and suggest an avenue to investigate for new sleep treatments.
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A mutation in the gene ADRB1 allows people to sleep less than six hours without feeling tired
Fu's team reported that a mutation in the ADRB1 gene allowed 12 members of a family to sleep as little as 4.5 hours per night without feeling tired. The team has also been genetically engineering these variants into mice to confirm their effect. The findings reveal a mechanism affecting quality sleep and suggest an avenue to investigate for new sleep treatments.
While people who sleep less because they have one of these gene variants appear to be healthy and don't suffer any ill effects, long-term studies involving large numbers of people would be needed to be absolutely sure. It is also unclear why these gene variants are so rare. It might be that sleeping less only became an advantage after the development of lights.
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Certain genes, such as CLOCK and BMAL1, have been linked to the body's circadian rhythm
A recent study published in *Science* has identified a genetic mutation on the gene DEC2 that appears to allow a mother and daughter to function with just six hours of sleep a night. This is the second such finding in recent months, with Fu's team at the University of California, San Francisco, identifying a mutation in the gene ADRB1 that allows 12 members of a family to sleep as little as 4.5 hours a night without feeling tired.
These findings suggest that some people may have a genetic predisposition to needing less sleep, and researchers are starting to understand why some people need less sleep than others. The amount of sleep a person needs changes as they age, and sleep needs vary from person to person. Most adults need seven or more hours of sleep each night.
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Some people need less sleep than others, and researchers are starting to understand why
In 2019, Ying-Hui Fu at the University of California, San Francisco, and her colleagues reported that a mutation in a gene called ADRB1 allows 12 members of a family to sleep as little as 4.5 hours per night without feeling tired. Fu's team has also found that people who sleep less because they have one of these gene variants are healthy and don't appear to suffer any ill effects. However, to be absolutely sure would require long-term studies involving large numbers of people, which isn't feasible.
In addition, certain genes, such as CLOCK and BMAL1, have been identified for their roles in the body's circadian rhythm, but the full cast of characters involved in moderating the process of sleep remains unclear. Thanks to a mother and daughter who share a rare genetic mutation—and who routinely need just six hours of sleep a night—researchers have recently taken a step forward in the journey to unravel the tangled genetic web of sleep. The new study reports the discovery of a genetic mutation on the gene DEC2 that appears to allow the mother–daughter pair of "short sleepers" to truly need less sleep.
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People with gene variants that allow them to sleep less are healthy and don't suffer any ill effects
People with gene variants that allow them to sleep less appear to be healthy and don't suffer any ill effects.
A genetic mutation that allows people to feel fully rested with fewer than six hours of sleep a night has been identified by studying a family who get by on less than average. The gene variant, called ADRB1, allows 12 members of a family to sleep as little as 4.5 hours per night without feeling tired. This gene codes for a receptor protein common in a brain region called the dorsal pons, known to regulate sleep.
Another study, published in Science, reports the discovery of a genetic mutation on the gene DEC2 that appears to allow a mother and daughter to need less sleep. They routinely sleep just six hours a night. The study also found that transgenic mice with the same mutation needed less sleep.
Scientists have identified a gene that causes people to naturally sleep less than six and a half hours each night without any apparent ill effects. However, it is important to note that the amount of sleep a person needs changes as they age, and sleep needs vary from person to person. Most adults need seven or more hours of sleep each night.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several genes that have been identified as allowing people to need less sleep. These include CLOCK, BMAL1, DEC2, and ADRB1.
People with these genes have been found to sleep as little as 4.5 hours per night without feeling tired. They typically sleep around 6 hours per night.
As far as researchers can tell, people who sleep less because of these gene variants are healthy and don't suffer any ill effects. However, to be absolutely sure would require long-term studies involving large numbers of people, which isn't feasible.
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