Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31911: Studying Genetic Features of Resilience to Spaceflight with Fruit Flies

Long-duration space missions subject organisms to extreme conditions, including radiation, microgravity, and isolation. Understanding how these factors impact biological organisms is essential for ensuring the success of future space missions. This experiment, led by Principal Investigator O. Larina from the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences, investigates the genetic features that determine individual resilience to spaceflight stressors using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.

The research focuses on how different genetic profiles impact the fruit flies' ability to withstand the challenges of long-term space travel. By studying these small but resilient organisms, scientists can gain valuable insights into the broader biological mechanisms that govern an organism's ability to survive under spaceflight conditions. The results of this study could eventually help identify the genetic markers associated with resistance to spaceflight stressors, which may be crucial for human space travel in the future.

This experiment, which took place during multiple expeditions (1, 7, 19/20, 21/22, 23/24, 27/28, 29/30, 31/32, 35/36, 41/42, 43/44), aims to contribute to our understanding of space-related health risks. By identifying the genetic factors involved in resilience, scientists hope to develop strategies for protecting astronauts and other biological organisms from the harmful effects of space radiation, microgravity, and other stressors.

For more details about the study, visit the official NASA page: [NASA - ISS Science](https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science/).

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