ICE FIRST: biological response during a 10 day round trip to the International Space Station
- Paper number
IAC-06-A1.4.05
- Author
Mr. Florian Selch, University Vienna, Austria
- Coauthor
Dr. Nathaniel Szewczyk, University of Pittsburgh, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Catharine A. Conley, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Ames Research Center, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Human space exploration is expanding with various space agencies planning missions to the Moon and Mars. The medical issues connected to such space flights will have to be addressed. On Earth, it is common practice to employ laboratory animals to help us to understand human health concerns. The study of model organisms in Earth orbit should similarly help us to understand and address the concerns associated with spaceflight. The "International Ceonorhabditis elegans Experiment FIRST" (ICE FIRST), was carried out onboard the Dutch Taxiflight in April 2004 by an international collaboration of laboratories in France, Canada, Japan and the United States. Animals developed normally in flight and returned in good apparent health. With the exception of a slight movement defect upon return to Earth, no significant abnormalities were detected. Studies from Japan revealed that apoptosis proceeds normally and work from Canada revealed no significant increase in the rate of mutation in flight. To further increase our understanding of C. elegans response to spaceflight, we examined the gene transcription response using a near full genome microarray analysis. We will report the transcriptional response of C. elegans to the 10 days space exposure. The transcriptional response is consistent with the observed normal development, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Additionally, several genes that may be involved in the movement defect have been identified. These results suggest that C. elegans can be used to study non-lethal responses to spaceflight and can possibly be developed as a biological sensor.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-A1.4.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.