Wake-Up Time & Genetics

How it works 

Not everyone’s internal alarm clock rings at the same time. Our biological sleep rhythms affect when we naturally prefer to fall asleep and wake up. It turns out your genes may be telling you when to hit the snooze button. 

The genetics behind wake-up time

23andMe researchers discovered that there are genetic associations with being a morning person versus a night person. And to figure out someone’s natural wake-up time? 23andMe looked at 450 genetic markers that are associated with being either a morning person or a night person. 

Did you know? 

Some genes involved with the inner workings of the body’s internal clock don’t just influence sleep patterns. They’re also involved in regulating body temperature and hormone level.  

Explore more

Ever wondered why you’re not a morning person, or how you naturally wake up to the sun? Learn more about how your genetics may impact your natural wake-up time with one of 23andMe’s services.

References

Gianotti F et al. (2002). “Circadian preference, sleep and daytime behaviour in adolescence.” J Sleep Res. 11(3):191-9.

Hu Y et al. (2016). “GWAS of 89,283 individuals identifies genetic variants associated with self-reporting of being a morning person.” Nat Commun. 7:10448.

Saksvik IB et al. (2011). “Individual differences in tolerance to shift work–a systematic review.” Sleep Med Rev. 15(4):221-35.

Scheer FA et al. (2009). “Adverse metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of circadian misalignment.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106(11):4453-8.

Schmidt C et al. (2007). “A time to think: circadian rhythms in human cognition.” Cogn Neuropsychol. 24(7):755-89.

Vitale JA et al. (2015). “Chronotype influences activity circadian rhythm and sleep: differences in sleep quality between weekdays and weekend.” Chronobiol Int. 32(3):405-15.

Wong PM et al. (2015). “Social Jetlag, Chronotype, and Cardiometabolic risk.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 100(12):4612-20.