Scientists find genes inherited from our prehistoric cousins increase tendency to rise early – useful in regions with short winter days

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    2•6 months ago

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    DNA inherited from our thick-browed cousins may contribute to the tendency of some people to be larks, researchers found, making them more comfortable at getting up and going to bed earlier than others.

    “By analysing the bits of Neanderthal DNA that remain in modern human genomes, we discovered a striking trend,” said John Capra, an epidemiologist at the University of California in San Francisco.

    Thanks to interbreeding between the groups, humans alive today carry up to 4% of Neanderthal DNA, including genes linked to skin pigmentation, hair, fat and immunity.

    Capra and his colleagues analysed DNA from modern humans and Neanderthals and found different genetic variants were involved in the body clocks, or circadian rhythms, of the two groups.

    To check, the researchers turned to UK Biobank, which holds genetic, health and lifestyle information on half a million people.

    Not only did many people carry the variants, the genes were consistently linked to waking up early, the scientists write in Genome Biology and Evolution.

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