Roundworms have the Right Stuff   
       
   May 23, 2015: Humans have long been fascinated by the cosmos. Ancient cave   
   paintings show that we've been thinking about space for much of the history of   
   our species.  The popularity of recent sci-fi movies suggest that the human   
   mind just might be coming to grips with the harsh environment "out there."   
       
   The human body is another matter.   
       
   When gravity is greatly reduced-as in spaceflight-we no longer use our muscles   
   to resist the usual pull of a planetary mass, and, without additional exercise   
   astronauts lose both bone and muscle. Additionally, studies have shown that   
   other parts of the body change in space like the bend of the spine, the amount   
   of blood in the body and eyesight.   
       
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8wVRZwL_Qc&feature=youtu.be   
       
   The common roundworm shares a surprising amount of genetic material with   
   humans - enough, in fact, to make them the good substitutes for astronauts in   
   low-gravity medical studies.  Play the video   
       
   As we are now, prolonged voyages into outer space may be limited by our   
   physical abilities.but a tiny new astronaut could provide much-needed insight   
   into the ways that our bodies behave in microgravity: the noble roundworm.   
       
   It may come as a blow to the ego, but roundworms-or Caenorhabditis   
   elegans-share a considerable amount of genetic material with humans. Enough,   
   in fact, to make them the good candidates for a new study designed to   
   determine how low-gravity environments affect astronauts.   
       
   Roundworms, like fruit flies, are often used as models for larger organisms.   
   This is because their short lifespans allow for scientists to observe several   
   generations of worms within a short period of time, yielding quicker results   
   for studies. In a new investigation entitled Alterations of C. elegans Muscle   
   Fibers by Microgravity, crew members of the International Space Station will   
   grow two batches of worms: one in microgravity and one in a centrifuge,   
   allowing the worms to experience simulated gravity. The Japan Aerospace   
   Exploration Agency (JAXA) is spearheading the investigation.   
       
   "The astronauts will cultivate multiple generations of the organism, so we can   
   examine the organisms in different states of development," says Atsushi   
   Higashitani, principal investigator for the experiment with Tohoku University   
   in Miyagi, Japan. "Our studies will help clarify how and why these changes to   
   health take place in microgravity and determine if the adaptations to space   
   are transmitted from one cell generation to another without changing the basic   
   DNA of an organism."   
       
   The results from the experiment could impact more people than just future   
   astronauts. Understanding the molecular changes that potentially take place in   
   microgravity could help researchers to develop treatments and therapies to   
   counteract physical changes associated with aging and extended bed rest. The   
   roundworm may be surprisingly important for the elderly and infirm population   
   of Earth, as well as to the astronauts orbiting it.   
       
   On April 14th, the space worms launched to the International Space Station on   
   SpaceX's sixth resupply mission.   
       
   For more news about roundworms and other unexpected space travelers, stay   
   tuned to science.nasa.gov.   
       
   Credits:   
   Author: Rachel Molina | Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit:   
   Science@NASA   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.99   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)