To everything there is a season, and this extends to our genetics, apparently. New University of Cambridge research reveals that some of our genes go on sabbatical in the summer, while other genes that slacked off during the winter get back to work! Think of it as a genetic job share program.
One of the genes that returns to work in the summer is called ARNTL. It's a gene that suppresses inflammation and battles general infection. That's why someone with rheumatoid arthritis might feel more productive and healthy in the summer, for example. Or our summer cold lasts a mere ten days instead of two knock-down, drag-out months.
On the flip side, it might also explain why rheumatoid arthritis symptoms might seem more aggravated in the winter months, and why our winter cold never seems to end until the daffodils bloom. Hey, could we get ARNTL to join the 24/7/365 mobile workforce already?
Another bit of good news? Our fat-fighting genes return to work just in time for bikini season, and looking in the dressing room mirror, not a moment too soon.
What about winter, you ask? For starters, the genes that regulate our response to vaccination return to work in the fall and winter months, just in time for that seasonal flu shot. This means that our vaccinations can be, overall, more effective. How awesome is that?
As ScienceDaily.com reports:
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows that the activity of almost a quarter of our genes (5,136 out of 22,822 genes tested) differs according to the time of year, with some more active in winter and others more active in summer. This seasonality also affects our immune cells and the composition of our blood and adipose tissue (fat).So what do these findings mean for the workplace? Well, it means that just like the slacker colleague I blogged about yesterday -- good luck with that -- our genes can decide to slack off, too. And they do. Unlike our slacker co-worker, however, our genes can regain a work ethic for at least half the year. Let's hope they're not posting to Facebook every five minutes while they're working.Scientists have known for some time that various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders, display seasonal variation, as does vitamin D metabolism. However, this is the first time that researchers have shown that this may be down to seasonal changes in how our immune systems function.
It may also indicate that employees could be more productive in the summer. Too bad they don't feel like working very hard because it's summer and the weather is so nice. Bummer.
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