“Short Sleepers” Are the 3 Percent of the Population Who Hit the Genetic Lottery

These so-called "sleepless elite" share a rare mutation of the DEC2 gene (which helps time your body's circadian rhythms) with an estimated 3 percent of the population, reports Sleep Education. While the trait has only been analyzed in two studies so far, the most recent one—which was published in 2014—suggested that these Cullen-esque humans not only snooze less than their counterparts, they may operate better cognitively, too.

In a comparison of 100 sets of identical and fraternal twins recruited from the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that twins with the gene variant naturally slept about one hour less than their counterparts. Then, they tested their cognitive function over a period of 38 hours of sleep deprivation using the Psychomotor Vigilance Test. Those with the variant performed fewer lapses of performance on average than those without it and required less recovery sleep afterward. As Renata Pellegrino, PhD, senior research associate in the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia phrases it: "The mutation was associated with resistance to the neurobehavioral effects of sleep deprivation." (Talk about #blessed.)

"The mutation was associated with resistance to the neurobehavioral effects of sleep deprivation." -Renata Pellegrino, PhD

Sure, it's totally possible for the other 97 percent of us to grit our teeth and have a successful day after an abysmal night of shut-eye. But I still can't help but think of what I might do with two extra hours of life each day. So if you do discover that you have this DNA leg-up, consider me jealous.

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