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You may have a dozy gene ... so don't lose sleep over it
Mark Blunden14.08.09
Our need for eight hours' sleep or just 40 winks is down to genetic programming, according to research.
While a lack of sleep makes many people feel run down, those with a "short-sleep mutation gene" function normally during the day despite having less time in bed, the study shows.
The University of California work, published in the journal Science, studied a family in which a mother and daughter suffered no ill effects from only six hours and 15 minutes' sleep.
Those carrying the sleep mutation gene have on average two fewer hours in bed each night.
Famous short sleepers include former premier Margaret Thatcher, who got by on four hours a night, and Gordon Brown, notorious for burning the midnight oil.
Conversely, George W. Bush needed at least eight hours in bed.
Ying-Hui Fu, who led the research, said: "The majority of people need eight to eight and a half hours of sleep and though they can try to drink coffee to sleep less, it isn't their natural state."
Reader views (3)
Imagine a world in which we conquered sleep..? I may write a short story...
Hypnos Dethroned...
- Paul, Bromley
Debate on how much sleep is necessary continues, but it is probably safe to say that young children need at least 8 hours of sleep a day while adults should get more than 6. Certainly, these numbers are not fixed and there are cases where some do fine with only a few hours while others do not. The bottom line is that our brains need sleep, deep sleep, and REM to function efficiently.
Dr. Paul Nussbaum
- Dr. Nussbaum, Pennsylvannia, USA
Plenty of dozy genes languishing within the House of Conmen - they fall asleep throughout debates and only wake up when it is time to claim more expenses and attendance allowances.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
