By studying the genetics of sleep in animals such as the fruit fly ( Drosophila melanogaster ), scientists hope to better understand how humans sleep, says a study published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Genetics .
As Trudy Mackay and her colleagues at North Carolina State University conclude in the article, male flies sleep longer than females , especially during the day. Furthermore, they tend to be more active than their peers during the time they are awake. Females , on the other hand, tend to have sudden "fits" of sleep , and their rest is more often interrupted.
By analyzing the DNA, the researchers identified up to 1,700 genes associated with the variability of sleep patterns in these tiny insects. And they showed that small mutations in some of these genes could change how long a fly stayed sleeping.
If we can explain how genetics affect the natural sleep cycle, Mackay says, it could improve the treatment of sleep disorders, in addition to reducing diseases associated with insomnia such as obesity or diabetes.
