Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31657: How Microgravity Shapes Microbial DNA: Insights from the ISS
- Agnirva.com
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Microorganisms are everywhere—including space. But do they behave the same way when they’re floating in microgravity? That’s the question Dr. Jonathan Eisen from UC Davis aimed to answer with this intriguing space biology experiment aboard the ISS.
The NanoRacks-Comparison of the Growth Rate and DNA Characterization of Microgravity Exposed Microbial Community Samples was conducted during Expedition 39/40. The goal was to understand how microbial communities grow and evolve when exposed to the unique environment of space, and whether their genetic material changes as a result.
The experiment focused on analyzing both the growth rate and the DNA sequences of microbes after being in microgravity. Samples of microbial communities were prepared on Earth, sent to the ISS, and allowed to grow under space conditions. After returning to Earth, scientists compared them to identical Earth-grown controls.
What they found was fascinating. Microbes in space sometimes grew differently and showed changes in gene expression. These changes could affect everything from how they metabolize nutrients to their resistance to antibiotics. By sequencing their DNA, researchers could identify which genes were affected and what those changes meant for microbial survival and behavior.
Understanding these changes is important for astronaut health, space habitat design, and even for planning missions to Mars, where long-term exposure to altered microbial behavior could pose challenges. This experiment adds a valuable piece to the puzzle of how life adapts beyond Earth.
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