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Yes, human beings can be nocturnal. There is a genetic basis for this fact; people with a mutation of the Fbxl3 gene, nicknamed the "Afterhours" gene actually run on a 27-hour cycle (as opposed to a 24-hour cycle) and function better on a nocturnal schedule. More research needs to be done on this gene and the people who possess it, but there are many advantages and evolutionary benefits for some humans adapting to be nocturnal rather than diurnal. Some of the factors that affect nocturnal behaviour in both primitive and modern humans (respectively) are: crypsis, osmoregulation, reducing the impact of light and heat (especially those with sensitivities to them) and certain habits or careers (such as shift work). "Night owls" or people who "burn the midnight oil" are often artistic, creative, innovative, have scientific minds and are often on the autistic spectrum. This is not a direct result of habituation (although that is the basis for nocturnal behaviour in many others) but a result of a genetic predisposition.

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10y ago

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