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Eugene

(61,595 posts)
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 06:43 PM Mar 2018

Scott Kelly: NASA Twins Study Confirms Astronaut's DNA Actually Changed in Space

Source: Newsweek

SCOTT KELLY: NASA TWINS STUDY CONFIRMS ASTRONAUT'S DNA ACTUALLY CHANGED IN SPACE
BY KATHERINE HIGNETT ON 3/9/18 AT 1:28 PM

Astronaut Scott Kelly’s DNA was altered by a year in space, results from NASA’s Twins Study have confirmed. Seven percent of his genes did not return to normal after he landed, researchers found.

Scott Kelly and his twin brother, Mark Kelly—also an astronaut—were the subjects of the study that sought to find out exactly what happens to the body after a year in space.

Scott stayed on the International Space Station from March 2015 to March 2016, while Mark remained on Earth. This was the final mission for Scott, who spent a total of 520 days in space during his career.

Scott Kelly's one-year stint in space is "a stepping stone to a three-year mission to Mars," NASA reported. At present, astronauts only spend six months on the International Space Station as standard. A mission to Mars, however, could take three years.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.newsweek.com/scott-kelly-astronauts-nasa-dna-838535

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Scott Kelly: NASA Twins Study Confirms Astronaut's DNA Actually Changed in Space (Original Post) Eugene Mar 2018 OP
I saw him trying to walk and move BigmanPigman Mar 2018 #1
Depending on ship design though for a trip to mars a lack of gravity would probably not cstanleytech Mar 2018 #2
Clarification from NASA: muriel_volestrangler Mar 2018 #3

BigmanPigman

(51,432 posts)
1. I saw him trying to walk and move
Fri Mar 9, 2018, 07:06 PM
Mar 2018

after he returned and his body was in a lot of pain. The lack of gravity really screwed up his joints, etc. If some of the effects improve over time that is great, but what if they don't? What if people stay up there longer than a year...what are the effects then? I think I will let Space X take the trip for me. I wouldn't mind having a cool, red Tesla to drive here on Earth though.

cstanleytech

(26,087 posts)
2. Depending on ship design though for a trip to mars a lack of gravity would probably not
Sat Mar 10, 2018, 09:38 PM
Mar 2018

be a major obstacle if the ship has the ability to rotate its habitable sections enough to provide near earth gravity.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,161 posts)
3. Clarification from NASA:
Fri Mar 16, 2018, 10:42 AM
Mar 2018
Editor's note: NASA issued the following statement updating this article on March 15, 2018:

Mark and Scott Kelly are still identical twins; Scott’s DNA did not fundamentally change. What researchers did observe are changes in gene expression, which is how your body reacts to your environment. This likely is within the range for humans under stress, such as mountain climbing or SCUBA diving.

The change related to only 7 percent of the gene expression that changed during spaceflight that had not returned to preflight after six months on Earth. This change of gene expression is very minimal. We are at the beginning of our understanding of how spaceflight affects the molecular level of the human body. NASA and the other researchers collaborating on these studies expect to announce more comprehensive results on the twins studies this summer.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-twins-study-confirms-preliminary-findings
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