Impact of space travel on astronauts revealed
CONTEXT:
- Scientists have found no major epigenetic differences in astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year in space aboard the International Space Station, and his twin brother, Mark Kelly, who remained on Earth.
- Epigenetic changes involve chemical tweaks to DNA that can influence gene activity.
- The changes affect when and how a gene is read, or expressed, for its protein-encoding instructions.
BACKGROUND:
- Space travel caused herpes viruses to reactivate in more than half of crew aboard Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS), according to a NASA study.
- This finding could jeopardise mankind’s future missions to Mars and beyond.
- While only a small proportion develops symptoms, virus reactivation rates increase with spaceflight duration and could present a significant health risk on future missions.