On Super Sleeper Genes!
I LOVE MY SLEEP, and so do the vast majority of my friends and family, as in 99% plus of them, especially the olders. But even a lot of my younger friends and children LOVE TO SLEEP.
I can't function without sleep, I just HATE feeling tired, and that's bad enough, but along with it my performance in every respect goes down: mentally and physically.
Life is just better with a good night's sleep.
However I am aware that there are some people who can get my on significantly less sleep than the usual 7-9 hours, and just 6 or 5 which is unfortunately all too common given the stresses and strains of modern life, but like 4 or less every night, and remain entirely functional with it.
The scientific basis....
Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation that allows some people to function perfectly well on significantly less sleep – a condition named as "natural short sleeping."
Researchers at the University of California, have discovered some gene variants – including DEC2 and ADRB1 – that appear to alter the way the brain regulates rest and recovery. People lucky enough to have these genes get all the restorative benefits of a normal 8 hour sleep cycle but from only a few hours sleep.
Perhaps the most famous historical instance of someone with this condition is that of past British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who slept only four hours each evening. Whatever you think of her politics, Thatcher was well known for being very energetic on only 4 hours sleep a night.
There are of course plenty of ego-execs such as Elon Musk or Jack Dorsey who live off short hours of sleep, and many parents are forced to do the same for several years, however for many of these it's a lifestyle choice (effectively) NOT because they are biologically programmed to be able to thrive off of limited amounts of sleep.
NB for most people, getting less than the usual 7-9 hours sleep for extended periods has SERIOUS health consequences, read Mathew Walker's Why We Sleep for evidence.
Implications...?
Obviously isolating sleep genes may help to tackle sleep disorders, which could be of huge benefits, and I also see this as a boon for genetic enhancement technology, I mean there are plenty of psychopaths out there who would love to be able to get by on EVEN LESS SLEEP so they can harm more people while they are awake.
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I need my 7-8 hours, but I won't sleep much longer at weekends. If people can get by on less then lucky them, but I don't think it's such a super power unless you actually achieve something with the extra time. If they are using it to be evil then shame on them!
Me neither, defo need a longer sleep! I guess for some people it will be a curse too! More time to be depressed or bored!
I wonder if people who work long hours and end up in the jobs that necessitate them, like Thatcher, have that gene. I certainly couldn't be PM - no way could I have such interruptions!
You would have thought that'd be the case... you have a natural advantage, a large one, if you can get by on less sleep!
I didn't know about this genetic mutation of short sleeping. If I can feel fully rested on just 4 hours of sleep, I wouldn't mind getting this. More time to do other fun things on that extra time.
If you can get by on 4 hours you're pretty lucky!
I agree. Shame that we can't learn this or train ourselves to acquire it haha