We’ve all heard, “the early bird gets the worm,” and that they’re healthier, wealthier, and wiser for it. But it’s not merely a preference whether we’re better suited for the morning or evening — it’s in our DNA, according to a recent study published in Nature Communications. Researchers found there are 15 genetic variants in the human genome linked to being a morning person, with seven of them associated with regulating circadian rhythm, or our body clock."In this study we set out to discover more about an individual's preference toward early rising, and were able to identify the genetic associations with ‘morningness’ as well as ties to lifestyle patterns and other traits," said Dr. Youna Hu, who led 23andMe's research on the paper, in a press release. Prior to this study, most work looking into the genetics of early birds had focused on fruit flies, which have a similar genetic system to humans.Building on this research, which found some genetic links, principal researcher David Hinds and his colleagues at 23andMe looked at the genomes of 90,000 customers, who submitted their DNA in saliva samples.

Then each customer answered two separate surveys that asked the same question: Are you a morning or an evening person?Based on the surveys, the researchers found women were more likely to be morning larks than men, (48.4 percent vs. 39.7 percent). People over 60 years old also preferred mornings more than those under 30, (63.1 percent vs. 24.2 percent). Overall, these people were less likely to need over eight hours sleep, sweat while sleeping, or sleep walk.Morning larks seemed to benefit when it came to health. Police Dogs For Sale ScotlandNot only did they have lower body mass indexes (it’s unclear whether this was a causative effect), they were also less likely to have other diseases, like insomnia and and sleep apnea. Cats Sale Kuwaitparing the survey results to the gene analysis turned up genetic patterns between morning and night people, specifically in 15 genetic variants. Toy Puppies For Sale In Missouri

For every additional variant, a participant’s chances of being a morning person increased from 5 to 25 percent, the study found.Of the 15 variants, seven were specifically involved in regulating the circadian rhythm. These included the gene HCRTR2, which has been linked to narcolepsy; FBXL3, which can extend the circadian period; and VIP, which prolongs REM sleep. Other variants played roles in processes like phototransduction, or how our eyes convert light into signals for the brain — like when to produce melatonin to help us sleep. These variants were about twice as likely to appear in morning people.While the study was successful in finding genes that could relate to a preference for the morning, the researchers admitted there were limitations. Specifically, asking someone whether they’re a morning or night person begs for a subjective answer, since everyone has their own definition for what these terms mean. A person who works the graveyard shift, for example, may consider themselves a night person even if on a day off they like to wake up early.

If the results are true, however, they might one day help doctors administer treatments when patients are most active, whether it’s morning or night. Moreover, they would show that our preferences aren’t just preferences, but that they’re based in our biology.So night owls, the next time you wake up in the wee hours of the morning and think about those early birds, take comfort that it’s probably in your DNA to sleep in, and rest some more.Source: Hu Y, Shmygelska A, Tran D et al. GWAS of 89,283 individuals identifies genetic variants associated with self-reporting of being a morning person. At a GlanceHelpGrasslandMammalsBuildingAerial DiveLeast Concern MeasurementsBoth SexesLength12.6–15.7 in32–40 cmWingspan39.4–49.2 in 100–125 cmWeight14.1–24.7 oz 400–700 gRelative SizeLarger than a screech-owl, but smaller than a Great Horned Owl.Other Nameseffraie (French) Lechuza de campanario (Spanish) Cool FactsBarn Owls swallow their prey whole—skin, bones, and all.

About twice a day, they cough up pellets instead of passing all that material through their digestive tracts. The pellets make a great record of what the owls have eaten, and scientists study them to learn more about the owls and the ecosystems they live in.Up to 46 different races of the Barn Owl have been described worldwide. The North American form is the largest, weighing more than twice as much as the smallest race from the Galapagos Islands. Barn Owl females are somewhat showier than males. She has a more reddish and more heavily spotted chest. The spots may indicate the quality of the female. Heavily spotted females get fewer parasitic flies and may be more resistant to parasites and diseases. The spots may also stimulate the male to help more at the nest. In an experiment where some females’ spots were removed, their mates fed their nestlings less often than for females whose spots were left alone.The Barn Owl has excellent low-light vision, and can easily find prey at night by sight.

But its ability to locate prey by sound alone is the best of any animal that has ever been tested. It can catch mice in complete darkness in the lab, or hidden by vegetation or snow out in the real world. The oldest known North American Barn Owl lived in Ohio and was at least 15 years, 5 months old. HabitatGrasslandBarn Owls live in open habitats across most of the lower 48 United States and extend into a few parts of southern Canada (as well as in much of the rest of the world). These include grasslands, deserts, marshes, agricultural fields, strips of forest, woodlots, ranchlands, brushy fields, and suburbs and cities. They nest in tree cavities, caves, and in buildings (often barns but also including Yankee Stadium). In the Andes they occur as high as 13,000 feet elevation. FoodMammalsBarn Owls eat mostly small mammals, particularly rats, mice, voles, lemmings, and other rodents; also shrews, bats, and rabbits. Most of the prey they eat are active at night, so squirrels and chipmunks are relatively safe from Barn Owls.

They occasionally eat birds such as starlings, blackbirds, and meadowlarks. Nesting Barn Owls sometimes store dozens of prey items at the nest site while they are incubating to feed the young once they hatch. NestingNesting FactsClutch Size2–18 eggsNumber of Broods1-3 broodsEgg Length1.5–1.7 in 3.9–4.4 cmEgg Width1.2–1.3 in 3.1–3.4 cmIncubation Period29–34 daysNestling Period50–55 daysEgg DescriptionDull white, often dirtied by the nest.Condition at HatchingHelpless, covered in white down.Nest DescriptionThe female makes a simple nest of her own regurgitated pellets, shredded with her feet and arranged into a cup. Unlike most birds, owls may use their nest sites for roosting throughout the year. Nest sites are often reused from year to year, often by different owls.Nest PlacementBuildingBarn Owls put their nests in holes in trees, cliff ledges and crevices, caves, burrows in river banks, and in many kinds of human structures, including barn lofts, church steeples, houses, nest boxes, haystacks, and even drive-in movie screens.

BehaviorAerial DiveBarn Owls fly slowly over open fields at night or dusk with slow wingbeats and a looping, buoyant flight. They use their impressive hearing, aided by their satellite-dish-shaped faces, to locate mice and other rodents in the grass, often in complete darkness. Barn Owls are usually monogamous and mate for life, although there are some reports of males with more than one mate. Males attract their mates with several kinds of display flights, including a “moth flight” where he hovers in front of a female for several seconds, his feet dangling. He also displays potential nest sites by calling and flying in and out of the nest. After the pair forms, the male brings prey to the female (often more than she can consume), beginning about a month before she starts laying eggs. Barn Owls defend the area around their nests, but don’t defend their hunting sites; more than one pair may hunt on the same fields. Conservationstatus via IUCNLeast ConcernBarn Owls are difficult to count because they're nocturnal and secretive, so population sizes are hard to estimate.

Owing in part to this difficulty, the North American Breeding Bird Survey could not detect a significant population change between 1966 and 2014, although it appears that their numbers have slightly increased in that time. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 2 million, with 7% living in the U.S. and 2% in Mexico. They rate a 9 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score and are not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. Barn Owls are threatened by the conversion of agricultural land to urban and suburban development, and the loss of suitable nesting sites such as large, hollow trees and old buildings. Changes to agricultural fields and grasslands can also affect Barn Owls through changes to their prey populations. Barn Owls were affected by the use of DDT-related pesticides, and they may be susceptible to poisons used against rodents, since they form a large part of the owls’ diet. Because Barn Owls hunt by flying low over fields, they are often hit by cars;

planting hedgerows alongside roads can help prevent this from happening. Nest boxes (of the correct size) have helped Barn Owl populations recover in areas where natural nest sites were scarce. CreditsMarti, C.D., A.F. Poole, and L.R. Bevier. 2005. Barn Owl (Tyto alba). In The Birds of North America, No. 1 (A. Poole, ed.). The Birds of North America Online, Ithaca, New York. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee. 2014. State of the Birds 2014 Report. U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC.2012. Species assessment database.Nonrandom pairing by male barn owls (Tyto alba) with respect to a female plumage trait. Behavioral Ecology 10: 688-695.Roulin , A., C. Riols , C. Dijkstra, and A.-L. Ducrest. 2001. Female plumage spottiness signals parasite resistance in the barn owl (Tyto alba). Behavioral Ecology 12: 103-110.USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 2014. North American Breeding Bird Survey 1966–2014 Analysis.USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.