Sleep increases chromosome dynamics that clear out DNA damage accumulated during waking hours
Sleep increases chromosome dynamics that clear out DNA damage accumulated during waking hours
Why do animals sleep? Why do humans “waste” a third time of their lives sleeping? Throughout evolution sleep has remained universal and essential to all organisms with a nervous system, including invertebrates such as flies, worms, and even jellyfish. But the reason why animals sleep -- despite the continuous threat of predators -- still remains a mystery and is considered among the biggest unanswered questions in life sciences.
In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers at Bar-Ilan University reveal a novel and unexpected function of sleep that they believe could explain how sleep and sleep disturbances affect brain performance, aging and various brain disorders.
Using 3D time-lapse imaging techniques in live zebrafish, the researchers were able to define sleep in a single chromosome resolution and show, for the first time, that single neurons require sleep in order to perform nuclear maintenance.
Read more at Bar-Ilan University
