Jet lag cure might be just around the corner
After flying for hours through multiple time zones, there’s nothing worse than being stuck with a bad case of jet lag at the start of your overseas holiday.
But recent research suggests jet lag may one day be a thing of the past.
Scientists at the Salk Institute in California who’ve been researching the biology behind the circadian rhythm (a 24-hour hormone-controlled cycle of activity and rest that determines whether we’re asleep of awake) has identified a key protein involved.
What makes this discovery so exciting is the fact that the protein (REV-ERBα) plays a big role in determining how strongly the circadian rhythm is enforced.
Director of Salk’s Gene Expression Laboratory Ronald Evans says: “Whether it is Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on your stereo or the symphony of genes in our bodies, both require volume to be heard. Our recent work describes how REV-ERBα acts as a molecular conductor to allow the volume or activity of thousands of genes to be dialled up or down.”
So if scientists can figure out the measures that are most affecting these genes, they can figure out ways to keep them in line and eliminate effects like jet lag.
Do you suffer from jet lag? Would you be open to changing your travel patterns if you felt it could influence whether or not you’d be effected.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
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