SLEEP IS ABOUT GENETICS

Sleep is about genetics
The mutation of a gene could explain the fact that why some people need less sleep than others, say U.S. researchers, whose study published in the journal Science.

A research team led by Ying-Hui Fu, professor of neurology at the University of California (western USA), discovered when she led a major study on sleep, a mutant gene in a mother and daughter, who slept only six hours per night without fatigue. "The team has identified that the mother and daughter throughout their lives had less need of sleep than most people," explains the professor.

The average time of sleep required for an individual is between 8 - 8 1/2 hours or 7 hours 45 minutes after a day not worked.

The analysis of a gene, DEC2, known to regulate sleep cycles, showed a change from these two people.

To confirm their hypothesis, researchers introduced the mutant gene in the body of mice and observed their sleep. "The mice slept less (...) and had less need to recover when they had been deprived of sleep," said Dr. Fu.

She said the DEC2 gene "could be involved in modulating sleep quantity alone or in the process of keeping awake."

"The case of mouse should give us an opportunity to explore more precisely whether there are other behaviors or other physiological conditions associated with this syndrome short sleep," says lead author of the study.