Being An Early Bird Is Genetic

I have been interested in how evolution has shaped the law for several years.  I have read a great deal on the field, and I have published two articles on the subject (A Biological Basis of Rights and Reciprocal Altruism as the Basis of Contract).

It seems like at least once a week, I run across an article on how evolution has affected human behavior.  Here is one of the strangest ones: The Human Genetics of Night Owls and Early Birds.

"Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl is partly dependent on your genome, according to a study published this week (January 29) in Nature Communications."

"Scanning nearly 700,000 human genomes available through the UK Biobank and the consumer genetics testing company 23andMe and comparing the results with reported sleep preferences, an international team of researchers identified more than 350 variations associated with being a morning person. Additional analyses using the device-recorded activity patterns of more than 85,000 of these participants revealed that people who carried the most gene variants linked with being an early bird went to bed an average of 25 minutes earlier than those who carried the fewest."

Now I have an excuse for sleeping late: It's in my genes.

(Scott Fruehwald)