Wake up to why you are sleepy

23 September 2004

Always knackered? Your genes could be to blame. Body-clock scientists are probing how DNA dictates your daily routine - right here at the Science Museum. Can they crack the code behind sleep disorders?

antenna says watch this space...
Are you a lark or an owl?

If you struggle in the mornings or burn out before bedtime, it could be written in your genes. Scientists at the cutting edge of sleep research are checking Science Museum visitors for a link between their sleeping habits and their DNA.
Step 1 One thousand visitors will be quizzed about their body clock and asked for a DNA sample swabbed from inside their cheek.
Step 2 Back in the lab, variations in visitors' body clock genes will recorded. The scientists are searching for DNA patterns that sort the owls from the larks.
Step 3 Extreme early birds or late-nighters will be studied for a further fortnight, wearing a device called an actiwatch to monitor their activity levels around the clock.
'This is the first time we've checked so many body clock genes. By identifying differences in the genes that people with extreme sleep rhythms have, we could create an accurate test for these sleep disorders.'
Simon Archer, sleep scientist, University of Surrey
Being born with extreme body-clock genes can leave you out of sync with society.

'My natural bedtime is 5 am and I don't wake up until the afternoon. It fits in well with my job in a bar but I'm missing out on seeing my baby daughter growing up.'
Paul Obonyano, night owl and barman
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