Sleep and dreaming genes identified

Sleep and dreaming genes have been recognized!
Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and University of Tsukuba in Japan have identified two genes, Salt-Inducible Kinase 3 Sik3 (Sik3) and Sodium Leak Channel Non-selective (Nalcn), that control deep sleep and dreaming.
REM (Rapid eye movement) is a stage that makes up around 25% of a night’s sleep and dreaming is supposed to occur during REM sleep. Whereas NREM (Non-rapid eye movement) accounts for the remaining 75% of the sleep and it is a stage of deep sleep.
The genes identified by the researchers regulates the amount of REM and NREM sleep in mammals. Study involved more than 8000 mice and reported that sleepy mice had a mutation in Sik3 gene whereas dreamless mice had a mutation in Nalcn gene.
This discovery might be beneficial for new treatments for sleep disorders.