A Year In Space Changed Astronaut's DNA
NASA study: Astronaut's DNA no longer identical to his identical twin's after year in space
A new study from NASA has found that astronaut Scott Kelly’s genes are no longer identical to those of his identical twin after spending a year in space.
Preliminary results from NASA’s Twins Study found that seven percent of Kelly’s genes no longer match those of his twin, Mark. Scott Kelly spent one year aboard the International Space Station during the study, while his brother remained on Earth.
While in space, researchers monitored Kelly’s metabolites, cytokines, and proteins to learn how space travel affects biological systems.
Though most of Kelly’s biological changes returned to baseline levels after returning to Earth, seven percent of his genes point to possible long-term changes, according to the study.
NASA's preliminary findings were validated this week, according to Space.com .
“The Twins Study has benefited NASA by providing the first application of genomics to evaluate potential risks to the human body in space,” according to a release from the agency.
Kelly’s one-year mission was twice as long as astronauts’ typical missions aboard the International Space Station, but it is a “stepping stone” to an eventual three-year mission to Mars, the agency said.
Mark Kelly, who is also a retired NASA astronaut, is the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).
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Good thing it was only a year , or he might have come back not looking like his brother any more.
This is the thing that sci fi is made of. Apparently something about space, changes us to our very building blocks of life.
It's Sub-Atomic Particle Radiation traveling faster than the speed of light. It bombards your Cells and DNA damaging them and DNA can't heal back to normal so the damage causes mutations when the cells reproduce. Because these mutations are caused by atomic particle damage not only has his DNA changed permanently but his DNA would be different in different cells of his body because unlike a mutated Zygote that replicates the mutation with every cellular split he was fully developed when the damage occurred and it's highly unlikely that the damage was uniform and different human cells from different organs regenerate at different life cycles but they always use the same DNA (NYTimes.com reports that while most cell molecules are replaced periodically, human DNA is not. In other words, the same DNA is passed along during the cell regeneration process, which is why human beings continue to exhibit many of the same physical traits over the years despite regular cellular regeneration taking place many times over) so if he was tested twice by two different methods they probably wouldn't match 100% even cells taken in the same sample might not be a match.
7% is a lot if you think about it. It would be a hoot if he started growing a full head of hair.
LMAO!!
Of developed superpowers, a la Fantastic Four. I can see Scott Kelly as the Thing. LOL
Humans and Chimps are said to have between 95-98% identical DNA so yes 7% is a LOT !!
So do the big brains have any idea why some of his DNA changed? Are they mutations that could lead to a disease like cancer?
They think it might be combination of radiation in space, the physiological stress zero-G places on the body, and dietary habits of the station crew. But to clarify, the changes were on RNA expression, not DNA.
The DNA started to repair itself upon Scott Kelly's return to Earth. But it's too soon to determine what the long term effects might be. Not to mention how long term space travel (such as to Mars) would affect an individual. It is interesting to note such change was brought on by a change in environment. Could this be a glimpse into the initial process of adaptation by natural selection? Note: I am not suggesting Mr. Kelly is undergoing evolutionary changes.
We are the way we are today because of minute adaptations.
Over a long period of time. Changes resulting from space travel could be more adaptations.
We live in interesting and exciting times.
This is true.
Mutations can only become Adaptations when subjected to Survival of the Fittest which weeds out bad mutations and allows those with beneficial mutations to out breed the Unmutated. This is virtually impossible in Modern Society.