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A Search For Insomnia Genes Involving 1.3 Million People is the Largest Genetic Study Ever (technologyreview.com)
In a genetic study of unprecedented size, scientists have searched for inherited causes of insomnia in the DNA 1,310,010 people. From a report: They found 956 different genes linked to the sleep disorder, drawing closer to an explanation of what causes it and, perhaps, to new ways to treat it. The study appears to be the first gene search to involve DNA collected from more than one million people. "It's amazingly massive," says Stuart Ritchie, a psychologist involved with genetics research at the University of Edinburgh. On Twitter, scientists let loose with superlatives: "Holy cr*p," "mammoth," and "Wow!" The project involved crunching genetic and medical information collected from the UK Biobank and the consumer DNA testing company 23andMe. It was led by Danielle Posthuma, a neuroscientist specializing in statistical genetics at Vrije University, in Amsterdam.
when using 23andMe, do you give them permission to use your DNA for other purposes?
Is it really a disorder if so many people have it? Perhaps it's time for our social constructs such as work times, sleeping hours, etc. to catch up with evolution.
But aren't all scientists untrusworthy bastards part of a global conspiracy of evil to suck always more grant money from not-at-all-evil governements ?
If you don't trust scientists when they tell you that global warming is caused by human activity, or that diversity of life on earth is the product of evolution through natural selection, or that the universe is 15 billion years old and not six thousand, or that vaccines don't cause autism, then why would you trust them when they tell you that there may be a link between genes and insomnia ?
Doubt it.
Makes sense - if you're doing a study, you should pick a group of people you can ask questions of at any time.
Mimetics Inc. Twitter
Time for a nap.
disclaimer: i did read the very short article and have some questions.
how do they know which genes cause insomnia?
presumably the genes these sleep-deprived people share could be completely unrelated to sleeping.
especially if "30% of the population" suffers from the disorder.
Younger people sleep well at night, because they need to be alert during the day for hunting mammoths and stuff.
Older people sleep lightly or hardly at night, so to be able to hear predators, enemies and sick young ones. Since they don't participate in hunts anymore, they can do naps during the day.
What an interesting name... Danielle Posthuma(n).
I wonder if she's (oops I'm assuming gender) one of those technocrat weirdos who want to merge with machines and control/kill the rest of us. If so, she (oops there I go again) should be a little more subtle.
You can track increased reports of insomnia and the adoption of colour television.
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Seriously, if you can't sleep, maybe that's because you are not tired. Of course if you do a one off work out, sore muscles will keep you awake. But else, do what nature intended and take a sufficiently challenging hike to be TIRED. You'll sleep like you probably don't remember. Seeing that people sit on their butts these days, I am not surprised they can't sleep at night.