Scientists nail gene behind insomnia

Scientists claim to have discovered an “insomnia gene,” a major finding which may pave the way for an effective treatment for the sleep disorder.

A team at Rockefeller University in New York says its has identified the genetic mutation in fruit flies – it found that those the gene slept two thirds less than normal and also had much shorter lifespans.

The scientists believe the gene works by eliminating specific proteins within brain cells that help in the onset of sleep.

The research says although flies and humans have little in common when it comes to lifestyle, the mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness are likely to be quite similar, the Daily Mail reported.

Dr Nicholas Stavropoulos, who led the team, said: “Sleep is a fundamental behaviour in all animals, and it is poorly understood from a scientific standpoint.

“This work gives us several new clues about how sleep is controlled at the molecular level, and could prove useful in understanding and treating sleep disorders.”

By cloning and testing the gene, known as insomniac, in more than 20,000 fruit flies, the team has discovered an entirely new mechanism by which sleep is regulated.

Using an infrared beam to detect when the flies nodded off, they discovered those with the variant slept for an average of just 317 minutes a day instead of the typical amount of 927 minutes. The mutant flies also snoozed for shorter periods, and slept and woke more frequently.

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