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A genetic analysis of transparent nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans on the International Space Station it showed “subtle changes” in about 1,000 genes; stronger effects were found in some genes, particularly those responsible for neuronal function and cellular metabolism.
Willis et al. performed comparative transcriptomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans responses to varying degrees of hypergravity and to two space flight experiments. Image credit: Willis et al., doi: 10.1016 / j.isci.2020.101734.
“We looked at the levels of each gene in the worm genome and identified a clear pattern of genetic change,” said co-author Dr. Timothy Etheridge, researcher in the Department of Sports and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter.
“These changes could help explain why the body reacts poorly to spaceflight.”
“It also provides us with some therapeutic goals in terms of reducing these health effects, which are currently a major barrier to deep space exploration.”
In the studio, Caenorhabditis elegans the worms were exposed to low gravity on the International Space Station and high gravity in centrifuges.
The high-gravity testing gave the researchers more data on the genetic impacts of gravity and allowed them to search for possible treatments using high gravity in space.
“A crucial step towards overcoming any physiological condition is first and foremost an understanding of its underlying molecular mechanism,” said lead author Dr. Craig Willis, also from the University of Exeter’s Department of Sports and Health Sciences.
‘We have identified genes with roles in neuronal function and cellular metabolism that are affected by gravitational changes.’
“These worms exhibit molecular signatures and physiological characteristics that closely mirror those seen in humans, so our findings should provide the basis for a better understanding of space flight-induced health decline in mammals and ultimately humans.”
‘This study highlights the ongoing role of scientists from Europe and the UK in life science research in space flight,’ said Dr Etheridge.
A paper on the findings was published in the journal iScience.
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Craig RG Willis et al. Comparative transcriptomics identifies neuronal and metabolic adaptations to hypergravity and microgravity in Caenorhabditis elegans. iScience, published online on 25 November 2020; doi: 10.1016 / j.isci.2020.101734
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