A neurology professor at The University of Toronto has made a “timely”  discovery.

Dr. Andrew  Lim and his team say a single gene mutation shows the time of day a person will likely die.

Scientists say  we’re  all either  “early risers”  or  “night owls”  depending on a specific combination of genes in our bodies.

And that holds the key to whether you’ll meet your maker  in the morning or in the early evening.

Lim’s extensive research into circadian rhythms  was conducted while he was a fellow at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The findings have implications that could affect when doctors administer medical treatment or pay closer attention to patients in hospitals.

The study was published in the November issue of the Annals of Neurology.