Is Early to Bed, Early to Rise, A Part of Your Genes?

by Monica Joshi

Do you follow the mantra: early to bed, early to rise, or are you a night owl? While some people say that the answer to this question depends on discipline, it may not be quite so obvious. A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology has shown that your preference might be connected to your genes. It's not just getting older that might make you rise at dawn, but rather your genetic variations could influence when you rise and when you fall asleep.

The team of researchers from the University of Leicester used fruit flies to study the genetic variations of those who emerged from their pupal earlier in the day, versus those who emerged later in the day. Fruit flies, as model organisms, have a very similar "genetic clock" to us insofar as the genes that control the clock in them may serve a similar function in us. Researchers, having seen that some fruit flies emerge later in the day, bred specifically those flies to observe them. The fact that the researchers were even able to breed late risers to produce more chronotypes like themselves clearly demonstrates that there is a genetic basis to their behaviour.

Researchers then ran a comprehensive DNA analysis on the flies 24 hours prior to their emergence. They noted that it wasn't just the same genes that were active at different times in both chronotypes (the early risers and the late risers), but that the genes in the two displayed differences.

Dr. Eran Tauber, one of the co-authors of the study said that:

"Most people find that their performance is at peak at specific times of day. The impact of this preference on health and behaviour is well documented, but the molecular basis is largely unknown.”

The research shows, therefore, that the molecular processes that contribute to the “genetic clock” in late risers are not just delayed, but are in fact entirely different when compared to early risers. So, to say that your genes cause you to be a late riser is not a cop-out, but is in fact now supported by scientific evidence.

This research is of significant importance as there are growing concerns with regards to our disturbed sleeping patterns and schedules. A growing number of teens in the U.S., roughly one-third, complain of not getting enough sleep and choosing to sleep in on weekends as a way to compensate for their busy weekdays. In addition, it is a well-documented fact that teens and growing children need roughly 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. That there are distractions in the form of technology is no surprise, but perhaps this new study from the University of Leicester could cast doubt on the go-to solution of “they just need to sleep earlier”. It is no longer as simple as that, but rather a much deeper, more molecular reason as to why they can not fall asleep and rise earlier.

The new study can also help us understand why the pattern of a 9 to 5 job may not make all those following it completely productive. Understanding how our genetic clocks function might make us more aware of the different structures that are needed to make people as productive as possible during a work day.