- Experts at University of California say sleeping habits are down to genetics
- Early risers dubbed ‘larks’ and those who like to lie in ‘owls’
By
Daily Mail Reporter
19:04 EST, 19 January 2014
|
09:46 EST, 20 January 2014
Whether you prefer an early night and rise the crack of dawn – or stay up late and lie in half the day – could depend on your genes, according to new research.
Experts believe our genetic make-up determines exactly whether we are early or late risers – dubbed larks and owls.
Neurogeneticist Dr Louis Ptacek, of University of California, says understanding a person’s chronotype – the time of day they function best – can help us live more healthily.
Whether you’re an early riser or a late sleeper may be down to genetics, experts say (library image)
Dr Ptacek told the BBC: ‘Whether we like it or not, our parents are telling us when to go to bed – based on the genes that they gave us.’
We all have internal circadian clocks – our master clock is made up of thousands of nerve cells in a wing-shaped structure located in the hypothalamus, at the base of the brain.
The hypothalamus controls all kinds of bodily functions, from releasing hormones to regulating our temperature and water intake. This internal clock is reset every day by light.
People who get up early are dubbed ‘larks’ and late sleepers ‘owls’ in the research by scientists at University of California
You might expect that since the earth’s day lasts 24 hours, everyone’s clocks would run to a similar schedule. But they don’t. That’s why there are larks and owls.
Families of extreme owls, with Familial Delayed Sleep Phase syndrome, were found to have a different mutation in the same genes.
Rick Neubig, a professor of pharmacology in Michigan, said he is an extreme lark.
‘People I communicated with in Europe will always notice that they get emails from me very early in the morning. The other thing I like a lot which fits in with the early mornings is that I’m a fairly serious bird watcher.
‘It’s much easier for me than other people to get up and see the birds at dawn.’
He said his early starts run in the family.
‘My mother would always drag us out of bed at 4 in the morning to go on vacation, and my daughter works out early in the morning.’
Dr Louis Ptacek, who is studying families like Rick’s that have Familial Advanced Sleep Phase syndrome, said he started researching sleep patterns after his colleague Dr Chris Jones met a 69-year-old who was worried about waking up very early.
Dr Ptacek said: ‘We recognised this was a strong genetic trait. We found the mutated gene resided near the end of chromosome 2.’
Prof Derk-Jan Dijk, Head of the University of Surrey’s Sleep Research Centre, said: ‘If you have a fast clock you like to do things early, and if you have a slow clock you like to do things late.’
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One who knows,
Wiltshire,
1 hour ago
When I was growing up, my father used to get up at 4am to go to work, I used to always get up with him.Light the fire for my mum sister talk to him as he got ready for work. All my life I have been a Lark, still the same even now I’m retired My sister is also a lark but my mum was a owl never went to bed before 12 mid night
Anonymous,
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
My mum and dad have never understood why I get out of bed at 7.30 nearly everyday they have always had lie ins, it’s just the way I am, I couldn’t wake up at 9 and then lie in bed until 11, waste of half the day!
Emily26xox,
Someplace, United Kingdom,
2 hours ago
I’m really lazy the longest I’ve slept for is 22hours and my 11month old sleeps 13hours straight a night.
pixels,
UK,
2 hours ago
My mother, sister, and I, are night owls and all feel better when we’re able to follow our natural cycles not least because we achieve better quality sleep.
norm,
devon,
2 hours ago
I’m an owl being made to act like a lark!!!
Marge,
Texas USA, United States,
2 hours ago
Wonder how this affects one’s weight? I am a lark,come from a family of larks,married to a lark and my son is a lark. All of us are thin…..
One who knows,
Wiltshire,
1 hour ago
Frank,
Detroit – Michigan – USA, United States,
3 hours ago
I am a late owl and an early riser. Those who sleep-in are lazy slobs.
Econ,
Upstate NY, United States,
3 hours ago
I’m exhausted most of the time but I think that’s because I go to bed early enough but don’t actually get the kind of rest I need.
WorkingGirl,
London,
3 hours ago
Really? My parents are “owls†and I have always been lark, ever since I was a small child. My boyfriend’s family are all larks, and he is most definitely an owl … rarely getting up before midday on a weekend!
space-helmet,
bournemouth, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
I think it really depends on what time you start work and the type of job you do
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