Why do we get tired?


 





Sleep continues to remain a relative mystery even in scientific circles. For example, we don't really know exactly why we need to sleep even though we would die without it. The exact cause for dreaming also elude us.

This new study could bring us closer to some of the answers to these questions. So let's talk about why we experience a thing called "tiredness".

When we're awake, tiredness (known as homeostatic sleep pressure) builds in our system. As it builds, we experience more and more tiredness. Think of it as as a ballon slowly filling up with air. Once it's past maximum capacity, the balloon will burst. For us, we fall asleep. If you've ever fallen asleep while watching a good movie or reading a book it's because you're "full" of homeostatic sleep pressure.

The reason that this happens is to protect your DNA. During waking hours your DNA gets damaged by several things (UV light, radiation, stress hormones, etc). These things cause damage in the neurons of your DNA that need to be repaired regularly. Our bodies increase our perception of "tiredness" so we know when to go to sleep.

When we sleep, your body activates it's very own DNA repair system that works throughout your sleep cycle to repair your damaged neurons.

Studies done on zebrafish show that protein PARP1, which is part of the DNA damage repair system, is one of the first to rapidly respond. PARP1 marks DNA damage sites in cells, and recruits all relevant systems to clear out DNA damage.

So the next time you feel sleepy don't fight it. Your body has some repairing to take care of. Click below for more detailed information.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ice cubes that don't melt or get contaminated

Image
Water is the most important resource for life on earth. As with many other resources, we use a lot more than we need and contaminate it with plastic, manufacturing run-off, and oil spills. Much of the world's population has limited or no access to fresh water and the problem is expected to rise as the population increases. Scientists have now found a way to save water use with ice cubes that don't melt and don't get contaminated. Imagine how much ice we use on a daily basis, especially for shipping and storage purposes. If it's apt to go bad, we need ice (and lots of it) to keep a product fresh. These cubes aren't made of plastic, can be washed and reused multiple times, and are bacteria resistant meaning you don't have to worry about cross contamination. They have a feel like a gelatin desser and can change color according to the temperature. In the future, theyc can be made of agricultural recycled byproducts. Even after being used and reused do...
Read more

This amazing living "robot" can reproduce on its own

Image
  A xenobot might sound like something from a science fiction book or comic book movie but it's very real and now has the ability to reproduce on its own. Scientists first developed these very tiny living robots from the stem cells of frogs. Each is less than a millimetre in size and was not genetically modified in any way. So what is it? Well, it's a living organism that's been "coded" by researchers to have a certain shape. This shape, which was selected by an AI program, allows this living robot to heal itself and, now, reproduce. It's in the way this reproduction takes place that is a surprise. Kinetic reproduction is known to happen on a molecular level but has never been observed at the cellular level or by an entire organism. Until now. Xenobots ingest stem cells into their mouth and, from there, the smaller cells combine to produce more zenobots that look and act just like it's parent. This kind of reproduction can have many benefits. In...
Read more

Why bugs should be in our diet

Image
We often think of bugs as just creepy crawly critters that pester us when we're eating outside or lurking inside our homes. These perceptions are generally due to a lack of knowledge about the importance of insects and how much they contribute to our lives as humans on earth. There are millions of people worldwide that not only rejoice at the sight of these arthropods but they also use them as a protein source. Eating bugs is a worldwide phenomenon except in North America. But there are many good reasons why we should indulge. THEY ARE GOOD FOR YOU Bugs pack more protein per unit than other protein sources such as beef or pork. Edible insects may have superior health benefits due to their high levels of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fiber, essential amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants as well. GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Whether it's conserving water, grains, land use, or ecosystems, the insect is far superior to livestock or chickens. Not only d...
Read more