Superhuman or Super Sleepy: Short Sleepers Function On Four Hours

The life of a college student is filled with late nights (often times completing an assignment that is due the next day) leaving many lethargic and tired the proceeding day. But for some genetically blessed people, a loss of one hour of sleep is not a problem. In fact, sleeping fewer than the recommended seven or eight hours is the norm. They naturally feel refreshed and ready to go -- at 4 a.m. These "short sleepers" have a mutation on a gene known as hDEC2, that regulates their sleep-wake cycle. This mutation allows them to function on less sleep, researchers say.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/12/short.sleepers.daylight/index.html