Shift work ‘can disrupt genes’
Working night shifts plays havoc with many of the body’s genes, a new study suggests.
Scientists disrupted the normal sleep-wake cycle of 22 volunteers until they were slumbering in the middle of the day. They then tested the activity of genes in blood samples.
The research showed a six-fold reduction in the number of active genes working to a 24-hour “circadian rhythm” cycle, including many linked to the regulation of biological processes, indicating that shift work or jet lag may have far-reaching physiological and health effects.
Lead scientist Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, from the University of Surrey, said the research could help them to understand the negative health outcomes associated with shift work and jet lag.