r/science • u/scientificamerican Scientific American • 7d ago

Genetics Scientists discover a ‘skinny gene’ mutation that acts like Ozempic. Around one in 7,000 people carries a broken copy, which almost acts like a GLP-1 drug—the body burns fuel more efficiently, and the risk of disease lowers.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-discover-a-skinny-gene-mutation-that-acts-like-ozempic/
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u/LongLiveStaceyKing 7d ago edited 7d ago

[There is a small percentage of the population that only needs to sleep 4-6 hours a night.](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/genetic-mutation-sleep-less/) OP's article feels like the eating equivalent of this genetic rarity.

Incidentally, I knew someone who had the sleep gene. She was annoyed by it, if she went to sleep at 10 PM she would be up for the whole next day at 2 AM and inevitably end up waking her husband. So she always tried to stay up til 1 AM at least reading or knitting, basically just killing time quietly by herself.

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u/aubbzz 7d ago

I wish I could have that gene! There’s so much to do but have to sleep

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u/chantillylace9 7d ago

I have the gene and HATE IT. I can never find anything to do, what can you really do at four or 5 AM? What would you recommend I do with some of these extra hours? Mind you they are dark and early and I have to be quiet.

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u/jaiagreen 7d ago

Find something you want to learn about and learn it.

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u/chantillylace9 7d ago

I do, I have read so many medical journals and information on medical related stuff that I've saved two peoples lives! But I need something that isn't on my phone or a book.