The duration of sleep is partly registered in our genes

Why Napoleon needed only four hours of sleep? A group of European scientists has identified a gene that has to do with the regulation of sleep, while indicating that the length of this is also influenced by other factors, individual or due to the environment.

According to the researchers, whose work recently published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, called ABCC9 gene explains in about 5% the variations in the duration of the dream.

Research
the team of the cronobiólogos Till Roenneberg and Karla Allebrandt (Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany) carried out a study with more than 4,000 people in seven European countries as diverse as Estonia and Italy. Study reiterated with a sample of almost 6,000 people.

Its analysis of the behavior against the dream (through a questionnaire) and genetic characteristics showed that individuals with a variation u000aoften the ABCC9 gene sleeping in general "fairly minor" periods that individuals with the other version the gene. "This is not the first study that shows the involvement of genes in the regulation of sleep, but this strength that evidence this gene in a large population and confirms their role in Drosophila (fruit fly)", told AFP the French cronobiólogo Claude Gronfier (INSERM, Lyon).

The team of Professor Roenneberg, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Leicester (United Kingdom) proved indeed the ABCC9 gene also affects the period of night of the fruit fly dream

"This is not only a statistical association that gives a role to a gene in the end is not bad, it's a real proven biological function, a beautiful confirmation," said the cronobiólogo Claude Gronfier. "The role of this gene in the duration of sleep is undeniable" u000aadded.

Previously, this same ABCC9 gene had been linked with diabetes and diseases of the heart.

"Well, apparently, the relationship between the duration of sleep and metabolic disorders can be explained in part by a molecular mechanism underlying and common", declared the cronobióloga Karla Allebrandt.

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