I was in for a shock this morning. The CC Caller Times had an article about a mutated gene that throws everything out of control for those who have it. This rare mutated gene named DEC2 is involved in regulating circadian rhythms. (I didn't know either) "occuring in twenty-four hour intervals". You can have this mutated gene and sleep for only six hours, yet arise refreshed for the day! The rest of your family can have normal patterns. No doubt, I HAVE DEC2! A good night's sleep for me is six hours. It does not leave me washed out for the day, except how a 77 year old is washed out anyway.
I know you are clamoring for some proof this gene exists. The article has proof! Thanks to Ying-Hui Fu, a neurology professor who did experiments, he discovered that MICE and FRUIT FLIES carrying the mutation slept less and yet recovered quickly from sleep deprivation. What more proof could one want? DEC2 is a real mutated gene affecting sleep and activity. This article is timely for many reasons: It helps me know why I can function with six hours of sleep and still write a BLOG. The article also helps me to use the opportunity we now have to observe fruit flies. Our house is infested right now. We left last week without emptying a garbage can in the kitchen. The prolific fruit fly reproduced a thousand- fold. I am now watching them closely. I am carrying Professor Ying-Hui Fu's experiment a bit further. I have decided THEY NEVER SLEEP! They also have no qualms in flying up one's nose while one IS sleeping. These fruit flies, obviously mutated, leap, dance, fly, bite, and generally make one's life miserable. They also love blackened bananas. Have a nice day.
