“Geneticists have for the first time identified the genetic clues behind what makes you a 'lark' or an 'owl'. Based on analysis of a fruit fly, the scientists have discovered nearly 80 genes associated with 'morningness' and 'eveningness'. Apparently fruit flies have similar gene clocks to humans, so the discovery of the genes in fruit flies has implications for future capabilities to assess an individual’s body clock through genomic testing.
When individuals are off their body clock cycle it “creates a clock dysfunction that is not only reflected in temporal disorientation and sleep problems, but also in conditions such as obesity, mental illness, cardiovascular disease and cancer.”
This research will “allow better diagnostics, and ultimately personal medicine, where larks and owls will receive their tailored therapies." This research could also contribute to the development of assessments to measure one’s cognitive shoe-size “to guide industry, trainers and educators in developing better capabilities to maximize the potential of the human involved regardless of the platform/system.”
See the article, University of Leicester. "Geneticists clock genetic differences between 'larks' and 'night owls'." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 May 2015. here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150514085748.htm
And check out BG (Ret) Palmer’s paper, “Getting to a Good Enough Cognitive Shoe Size – An Operator’s Perspective,’ in our document library to get a better understanding of how the development of a baseline assessment can help the Army find and recruit the best future Soldiers.