3 ms·

While the findings are interesting and may hold therapeutic potential, this is a very zoomed in perspective. We know that epigenetic changes occur in micrograv

While the findings are interesting and may hold therapeutic potential, this is a very zoomed in perspective. We know that epigenetic changes occur in microgravity and they occur across the entire genome. While one gene may see an upregulation or downregulation, it's important to know this happens to many genes i.e. differentially methylated regions (DMRs). And these DMRs are not entirely predictable as there are many mechanisms associated with epigenetics. For example, two species at different levels of maturity may exhibit different DMRs in microgravity. So while we may see downregulation in one age-related gene, you may very well see an upregulation of the many other age-related genes. We'll have to find out with further inquiry. Still, very cool stuff and I hope more funding goes into microgravity effect on gene expression.

gxt 4y ago
How is it possible to distinguish microgravity effects from radiation damage since the only place to study microgravity is above the atmosphere, and without similar shielding properties?
- dmicah 4y ago
  I don't know anything about this research, but I imagine they could also expose samples on Earth to similar radiation?
mncharity 4y ago
Further, for reduced gravity, in space or Moon or Mars, constant or supplemented, surfing research a year or so ago suggested, we basically have no clue. For instance, it's oft repeated that artificial gravity requires large radii to avoid distress. And yet, centrifuges can be as small as 2 m, as currently on ISS. And people are diverse in their tolerances. And details of motion restriction matter. It's not a small design space. But how does tolerance vary? How to select or train for it? We don't know. Health side, is the Moon sufficient gravity to blunt various micro-gravity effects? Is Mars? Is some pattern of various levels of gravity exposure? While sleeping, exercising, working? We've no clue. > I hope more funding goes into microgravity effect My main takeaway was, once Starship can provide lower-cost long-term vibration-tolerant physically-larger orbital housing for more people ... there's a large space medicine research agenda that's been backlogged for years on lack of plausible cost opportunities.

gxt 4y ago

How is it possible to distinguish microgravity effects from radiation damage since the only place to study microgravity is above the atmosphere, and without similar shielding properties?

dmicah 4y ago
I don't know anything about this research, but I imagine they could also expose samples on Earth to similar radiation?

mncharity 4y ago

Further, for reduced gravity, in space or Moon or Mars, constant or supplemented, surfing research a year or so ago suggested, we basically have no clue. For instance, it's oft repeated that artificial gravity requires large radii to avoid distress. And yet, centrifuges can be as small as 2 m, as currently on ISS. And people are diverse in their tolerances. And details of motion restriction matter. It's not a small design space. But how does tolerance vary? How to select or train for it? We don't know. Health side, is the Moon sufficient gravity to blunt various micro-gravity effects? Is Mars? Is some pattern of various levels of gravity exposure? While sleeping, exercising, working? We've no clue. > I hope more funding goes into microgravity effect My main takeaway was, once Starship can provide lower-cost long-term vibration-tolerant physically-larger orbital housing for more people ... there's a large space medicine research agenda that's been backlogged for years on lack of plausible cost opportunities.