Sequencing DNA in Space   
       
   Aug. 29, 2016:  Ever since the first strands of DNA were sequenced in the   
   1970s, researchers understood the profound significance of analyzing genetics   
   for a wide range of medical and biological research.   
       
   DNA sequencing is used to identify forms of life; to study how different   
   organisms are related and how they evolved; to pinpoint genetic diseases in   
   individuals and to develop pharmaceutical treatments for maladies. It's even   
   used for crime-fighting.   
       
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWdkZhYqMgo   
       
   Now, thanks to an experiment just delivered to the International Space   
   Station, it may be possible to do all these things in space.   
       
   On July 20th, 2016, a SpaceX Dragon supply ship docked with the ISS carrying   
   thousands of pounds of supplies. Among the items onboard was a hand-held DNA   
   sequencer named "MinION."   
       
   Developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, MinION works great on Earth. NASA's   
   Biomolecule Sequencer investigation will find out if it works just as well in   
   microgravity.   
       
   Kristen John of NASA's Johnson Space Center says, "The goal is to take a   
   technique widely used here on Earth, and test it in the spaceflight   
   environment of the ISS, so that one day it could possibly be used in crew   
   health applications or even for the detection of life on Mars."   
       
   DNA sequencing has never been done in space before and, if the Biomolecule   
   Sequencer investigation is successful, it could be a big deal.   
       
   Sarah Castro-Wallace of the Johnson Space Center mentions just a few of its   
   uses:   
       
   "In the past, we've had visible fungi growing on the ISS, and we want to   
   identify that fungi without having to return a sample to Earth,"  she says.   
   "Is it benign or something to be concerned about? Knowing what it is, the   
   microbiologists can recommend how best to deal with the issue."   
       
   As a self-contained spacecraft, the ISS slowly and inevitably collects   
   microbes carried onboard by astronauts, on the surfaces of supplies, inside   
   foodstuffs-it's a bit of a microbial zoo. A DNA sequencer can help identify   
   those microbes as well as testing the cleanliness of air and water.   
       
   Castro-Wallace says, "About 85% of the water on the station is recycled, from   
   urine, condensate, sweat, everything. Is it being processed to where it's   
   microbially clean? We want to know in a more real-time way if that water   
   processor working."   
       
   Principal Investigator Aaron Burton of the Johnson Space Center notes that   
   astronauts themselves could benefit from sequencing: "You can look at DNA for   
   permanent changes, what spaceflight is doing to your DNA long-term, but also   
   by looking at the RNA, you can see how the human body or other organisms are   
   reacting in real-time."   
       
   During the Biomolecule Sequencer investigation, crew members will sequence the   
   DNA of bacteria, viruses, and rodents from samples prepared on Earth that have   
   known genomic characteristics. Researchers on Earth will run parallel   
   experiments on the ground to evaluate how well the hardware is working.   
       
   The USB-powered sequencer - about the size of a small candy bar - is tiny   
   compared to the large microwave-sized sequencers used on Earth.   
       
   Castro-Wallace says, "Most sequencers in Earth-based labs involve optics,   
   fluorescence, lasers and other vibration sensitive components that are not   
   suited for spaceflight or microgravity. There is huge power consumption at   
   play with those as well."   
       
   MinION, on the other hand, has minimal moving parts and plugs directly into a   
   laptop or tablet, which supplies power to the device and collects the   
   sequencing data. Unlike terrestrial instruments whose sequencing process can   
   take days, this device's data is available in near real-time; analysis can   
   begin within 10-15 minutes from the application of the sample.   
       
   Burton says, "The space station and Earth are [on opposite ends of a] gravity   
   continuum, so if the device works on Earth and in microgravity, then it should   
   work in any environment in between like an asteroid or Mars."   
       
   Let the sequencing begin!   
       
   For updates from the International Space Station, visit www.nasa.gov/station   
       
   For more on science on Earth, in Earth's orbit, and beyond visit   
   science.nasa.gov   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- DB 3.99 + W10 (1607)   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)