Astronaut's DNA Changed while in Space

Toroid

Founding Member
Astronaut Scott Kelly's DNA changed while he was in space. His telomeres became longer and only 93% of his DNA reverted to normal upon returning to Earth.
A year in space altered this man's DNA
Astronaut Scott Kelly’s DNA was altered by a year in space, results from NASA’s Twins Study have confirmed. Seven percent of his genes did not return to normal after he landed, researchers found.

Scott Kelly and his twin brother, Mark Kelly—also an astronaut—were the subjects of the study that sought to find out exactly what happens to the body after a year in space.

Scott stayed on the International Space Station from March 2015 to March 2016, while Mark remained on Earth. This was the final mission for Scott, who spent a total of 520 days in space during his career.

Scott Kelly's one-year stint in space is "a stepping stone to a three-year mission to Mars," NASA reported. At present, astronauts only spend six months on the International Space Station as standard. A mission to Mars, however, could take three years.

Researchers studied Scott in space psychologically and physiologically, comparing his results to those of his Earthbound brother. They looked at various proteins and evaluated the twins' cognition as part of the overall study. Ten research teams presented their preliminary findings last year at NASA’s Human Research Program 2017 Investigators' Workshop (IWS). The recent 2018 IWS saw these findings confirmed. Researchers also presented data from Scott’s time back on Earth.

The researchers linked space travel to oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation and striking nutrient shifts that affect gene expression. Some of these changes went back to normal within hours of landing on Earth. A few, however, still affected Scott six months after his return.

In 2017, researchers discovered that the endcaps of Scott Kelly’s chromosomes—his telomeres—had become longer while he was in space. Further testing confirmed this change, and revealed that most of the telomeres had shortened again within just two days of his return.

After landing, 93 percent of Scott Kelly’s genes returned to normal, the researchers found. The altered 7 percent, however, could indicate long-term changes in genes connected to the immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks, oxygen deprivation and elevated carbon dioxide levels.

The individual studies on the twins will be combined into a summary paper, as detailed in the graphic above. This summary is set to be released later this year. The research will inform NASA's understanding of the human body in space for "years to come," the agency reported, as it "continues to prioritize the health and safety of astronauts on spaceflight missions."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrfG8PynakE
 

Area201

cold fusion
I'm curious with the prospect of colonizing Mars coming more real, wouldn't the 35% or so gravity do real havoc to the bodies of the colonists in the long run? they would do at least a 2 year stint or longer. Their muscles would atrophy, so they need to do weird workout programs? Seems so impractical. Even if we terraformed Mars like Earth, it would still be 35% gravity so Martians bodies would have to adopt over generations..?

Also, this scientist mae a bold argument better colonize Titan than Mars, for various reasons.



"In September 2017, SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk revealed his latest aspirations for colonizing Mars. His plan is to send the first humans to Mars in 2024 to build the foundations for the first Martian city. But is Mars really the best place for humans to settle? Some scientists, like Amanda Hendrix believes we should be looking somewhere else like Titan, a moon slightly bigger than our own that orbits Saturn.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Also, this scientist mae a bold argument better colonize Titan than Mars, for various reasons.

Too much methane on Titan, gas and liquid state...
 

Area201

cold fusion
Too much methane on Titan, gas and liquid state...

Hmm did you watch her video (it's short like couple minutes). She says it has an atmosphere to protect from solar radiation, and it has H2O trapped that can be released into Oxygen.. only 2% methane... She thinks Mars is a good practice base.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Hmm did you watch her video (it's short like couple minutes). She says it has an atmosphere to protect from solar radiation, and it has H2O trapped that can be released into Oxygen.. only 2% methane... She thinks Mars is a good practice base.

She is wrong, there is a great deal more methane than 2%. All the lakes are liquid methane because it's so cold...Our probes only survive minutes because of the corrosive gases in the atmosphere...
 

Kchoo

At Peace.
Duh.... you know, our own moon wouldn't be a bad place to practice colonizing....

Maybe that would be a first good stepping stone...

Work out the kinks a little closer to home first???
 

3FEL9

Islander
They said his telomeres got longer...

Anyone here realise what that could mean for him ?
 

Kchoo

At Peace.
Longer Telomeres may help protect against effects of aging.

Well this is a confirmation of what my encontered friends have been telling me... that we will potentially live longer if we leave Earth...

Also explains why they are usually tall, lean, and have a healthy appearance...
 
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