| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
What Time Of Day Will You Die?
Time’s up: Gene can predict what time of day you will die
Scientists have discovered a gene that predicts the time of day that youll die. ‘Not the date, fortunately, but the time of day,’ says one. File image
SCIENTISTS have discovered a gene variation that affects the human body clock so profoundly that it even predicts the time of day when an individual is most likely to die.
Researchers hope the findings could eventually be used to determine when heart or stroke patients should take medication to make it most effective, or when hospital patients should be monitored most closely.
The US team discovered the gene variation by accident when they were investigating the development of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
They looked at the sleeping patterns of 1200 healthy 65-year-olds who were also given annual neurological and psychiatric assessments.
They found a single molecule near a gene called ‘Period 1’ that had as its base either adenine (A) or guanine (G).
Type A is more common by a ratio of six to four, so because people have two sets of chromosomes, an individual has a 36 per cent chance of having two As, a 16 per cent chance of having two Gs, and a 48 per cent chance of an A and a G.
