Roundworms have the Right Stuff
 
May 23, 2015: Humans have long been fascinated by the cosmos. Ancient cave
paintings show that we've been thinking about space for much of the history of
our species.  The popularity of recent sci-fi movies suggest that the human
mind just might be coming to grips with the harsh environment "out there."
 
The human body is another matter.
 
When gravity is greatly reduced-as in spaceflight-we no longer use our muscles
to resist the usual pull of a planetary mass, and, without additional exercise
astronauts lose both bone and muscle. Additionally, studies have shown that
other parts of the body change in space like the bend of the spine, the amount
of blood in the body and eyesight.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8wVRZwL_Qc&feature=youtu.be
 
The common roundworm shares a surprising amount of genetic material with
humans - enough, in fact, to make them the good substitutes for astronauts in
low-gravity medical studies.  Play the video
 
As we are now, prolonged voyages into outer space may be limited by our
physical abilities.but a tiny new astronaut could provide much-needed insight
into the ways that our bodies behave in microgravity: the noble roundworm.
 
It may come as a blow to the ego, but roundworms-or Caenorhabditis
elegans-share a considerable amount of genetic material with humans. Enough,
in fact, to make them the good candidates for a new study designed to
determine how low-gravity environments affect astronauts.
 
Roundworms, like fruit flies, are often used as models for larger organisms.
This is because their short lifespans allow for scientists to observe several
generations of worms within a short period of time, yielding quicker results
for studies. In a new investigation entitled Alterations of C. elegans Muscle
Fibers by Microgravity, crew members of the International Space Station will
grow two batches of worms: one in microgravity and one in a centrifuge,
allowing the worms to experience simulated gravity. The Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) is spearheading the investigation.
 
"The astronauts will cultivate multiple generations of the organism, so we can
examine the organisms in different states of development," says Atsushi
Higashitani, principal investigator for the experiment with Tohoku University
in Miyagi, Japan. "Our studies will help clarify how and why these changes to
health take place in microgravity and determine if the adaptations to space
are transmitted from one cell generation to another without changing the basic
DNA of an organism."
 
The results from the experiment could impact more people than just future
astronauts. Understanding the molecular changes that potentially take place in
microgravity could help researchers to develop treatments and therapies to
counteract physical changes associated with aging and extended bed rest. The
roundworm may be surprisingly important for the elderly and infirm population
of Earth, as well as to the astronauts orbiting it.
 
On April 14th, the space worms launched to the International Space Station on
SpaceX's sixth resupply mission.
 
For more news about roundworms and other unexpected space travelers, stay
tuned to science.nasa.gov.
 
Credits:
Author: Rachel Molina | Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit:
Science@NASA
 
 
Regards,
 
Roger

--- D'Bridge 3.99
 * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)