Are Morning People Born That Way?

Are you the type of person that can get up at five a.m. and go for a jog before work each morning? Or do you dread the sound of your alarm clock every morning? Well, regardless of which one you are we may have to rethink our conceptions that morning people are hard-working, disciplined people and night owls are simply lazy and prefer to sleep in. Why’s that? Recent research has revealed that whether you’re a morning person or not, it may simply be a matter of genetics.

To discover whether there is indeed a “morning person” gene, German scientists recently studied over 4,000 people and their sleep habits. The participants in the study filled out questionnaires and had their genes analyzed. According to the study, people with two copies of one common variant of the gene ABCC9 (a gene acts as a sensor of energy metabolism in the cell) slept for a significantly shorter period than those with two copies of the other version. To confirm the connection, scientists altered the gene in fruit flies, which noticeably shortened the length of time the insect slept.
One problem revealed by the study was that people who have the “morning person gene” are also more susceptible to cardiovascular problems and diabetes. Also, although these people may not feel as sleepy after getting less sleep, they can still suffer from the negative consequences of sleep deprivation such as calcium build up in the arteries.

With a better understanding of how genetics relates to feelings of sleepiness during the day, people who wake up early can learn to take advantage of their genetic disposition while being extra careful of possible heart defects along the way. For those of us who are not morning people, this information is a helpful way to figure out new coping mechanisms and to learn how to either create our persona schedules around your natural inclinations. And for everyone, we can learn to be a little more tolerant of our friends, family members and coworkers sleep and wake schedules.