Women With Mutant Gene Need Less Sleep

Scientists have found a rare gene mutation that they say allows two women to function well with only six hours of sleep a night. The mother, who is 69, and her 44-year-old daughter both go to bed about 10 p.m. The mother gets up at 4 a.m. and her daughter half an hour later. The rest of their family gets more sleep. Researchers found that both women have a mutation in a gene called DEC2. This gene is involved in regulating the body’s clock. Researchers said they have not found anyone else with this gene mutation so far. The study appeared in the journal Science. The Associated Press wrote about it August 14.