HomeSpace & AstronomyBlood samples from 14 astronauts Showed Genetic Mutation

Blood samples from 14 astronauts Showed Genetic Mutation

The long-term dangers to humans of leaving Earth and going into space are starting to become clear, and so far none of the research answers are good.

A new study by a team at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York shows that even on a relatively short spaceflight, crew members experience damaging DNA mutations that may increase their risk of developing cancer or heart disease throughout their lives.

The team studied 14 astronauts (mostly male, with an average age of 42, six of whom were first-time space missions) who flew back and forth on rockets between 1998 and 2001,

Blood samples were collected 10 days before the flight and on the day of landing, and were stored at -80°C for 20 years.

Using DNA sequencing analysis, the researchers identified DNA mutations called somatic mutations in the hematopoietic system.

In depth, the researchers found 34 mutations in 17 replicative hematopoiesis (CH) driver genes, with the most common mutations occurring in TP53 (a gene that produces tumor suppressor proteins) and DNMT3A (the most common gene in acute myeloid leukemia).

Such mutations are usually caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation or certain chemicals. It may also be a side effect of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Most patients are found to be sick only after blood samples or other disease genes are checked. Although not an indicator of disease, it is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and blood cancer.

Although the observed size was relatively small, the fact that these mutations appeared was surprising considering the astronauts’ relatively young age and health.

Many factors can lead to somatic mutations. The biggest threat to astronauts is high-energy radiation in space. With the rise of commercial space exploration and the launch of longer-term space missions (such as trips to Mars), we need to pay more attention to the astronauts facing potential health risks. We also wrote an article about how space travel can affect the kidneys and cause kidney stones.

The new paper was published in the journal Nature Communications Biology.

Mehmet S. Kaya
Mehmet S. Kayahttps://teknonel.com
Mehmet is one of the administrator of Teknonel. As a software developer, he loves to share his knowledge in related topics. He is highly familiar with the editorial process from the inception of an article idea, through the iterative process, publishing, and performance analysis as well as product reviews.

Follow us on Social Media!

12FansLike
15,848FollowersFollow
13FollowersFollow
676SubscribersSubscribe

Related Articles

NASA captures unusual close glimpse of black hole devouring a star

A rogue star recently eaten by a black hole may help scientists understand more complex black hole feeding.NASA's multiple telescopes recently observed a massive...

The Most Important space exploration Missions to watch in 2023

Following this year's milestones such as the launch of the Webb Space Telescope for scientific observation, the completion of China's Tiangong space station, and...

Gravitational waves from alien megaships can be detected across the Milky Way

Whether the earth is the only intelligent species in the universe has always been an unresolved question. After all, human search technology is limited...

2 Deep Ocean exoplanets are discovered by Hubble and Spitzer

The solar system contains planets of various characteristics, but lacks water planets that are almost completely covered by deep oceans. Recently, astronomers analyzed data from...

Explore More Articles

The night sky is full of black holes instead of stars

The night sky is full of black holes instead of stars

0
This is a seemingly ordinary starry sky photo (see the first picture), but it is a more special celestial body than luminous stars, that...

Sons of the Forest: How to Get the Zipline Rope Gun?

0
The Sons of the Forest zipline Rope Gun, otherwise known as the rope gun, is an important key item that is easy to miss....
Gene customizing and cloning business become more Popular

Gene customizing and cloning business becomes more Popular

0
Replicating beauty pageant camels, replicating equestrian racing horses, replicating high-yielding super cows... With the gradual popularization of animal replication technology, people can use technology...
Sons-of-the-Forest-How-to-Craft-a-Bone-Armor

Sons of the Forest: How to Craft a Bone Armor?

0
Armor is surprisingly important in Sons of the Forest . If you plan on delving into the spooky caves that dot this new island, you'll want to...