In a process known as phosphorylation phosphorus connects with a protein in the brain to reset our inner clocks. Triggered by light, this process synthesizes the proteins and resets our “clock” to adjust to our daily environmental cycles. Scientist mutated the protein in mice, gave them running wheels, and altered their light cycles. The mutated mice […]
Sleep deprived mutant flies. Sounds a little like a sci-fi horror movie from the 1950s, right? In fact, they’re very real! Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Pennsylvania, have identified a type of fruit fly with a genetic mutation that results in the flies being chronically sleep deprived. They identified this type by evaluating […]
Sleep apnea. Restless leg syndrome. Narcolepsy. Insomnia. These are the most common disorders that plague sleep. For some of us, we have trouble getting refreshing sleep, no matter how many sheep we count. As a veteran of several sleep studies, complete with the diagnosis of sleep apnea and restless leg, I’m very interested in what’s being done […]