Insomniac Fish

Big Gary, Deputy Curator in Charge of Fish, spotted this article about fish who suffer from insomnia:
California scientists studying sleep disorders in humans found that some zebrafish, a common aquarium pet, have a mutant gene that disrupts their sleep patterns in a way similar to insomnia in humans.
Zebrafish with the mutant gene slept 30 percent less than fish without the mutation. When they finally drifted off they remained asleep half as long as the normal fish, the researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine said.

I've heard that watching fish swim around in an aquarium can be very relaxing, but I wonder what effect watching insomniac fish would have.

Animals

Posted on Mon Oct 22, 2007



Comments

I wonder if they wake up grouchy and with that headache thing happening? Can you sprinkle Ambien into the tank to cut the fish a break??

http://www.theskinofmyteeth.com

David B.
Posted by David B.  on  Mon Oct 22, 2007  at  11:13 AM
If you think watching fish swim is relaxing, just try watching fish sleep (the non-insomniac ones, I mean).
Posted by Big Gary  on  Tue Oct 23, 2007  at  05:59 PM
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