Tests of the blood of astronauts indicate an increased stress level during a longer stay in weightlessness. They have a significantly higher concentration of certain pieces of DNA in the blood, so-called cfDNA, as an international team has found. “For the study, we examined the blood of a NASA astronaut before, during and after his mission on the ISS and compared it with the blood of his identical twin brother on Earth,” said Daniela Bezdan from the University Hospital in Tübingen. The 1964 born twin brothers Mark and Scott Kelly have already participated in numerous examinations. They were each a few times in space.

Preparations for flights to Mars The researchers hope that the study will also provide better medical surveillance for astronauts during their space flights. Cell changes could be analyzed with the help of blood markers on board the space shuttle in the future, as Bezdan explained. “Astronauts are trained to draw blood.”

Samples could also be sent to earth by capsules from the International Space Station ISS in order to examine them more closely in laboratories. “We have already tested that in the twin study.” The research results should also provide approaches for possible drugs and treatment therapies that could be used in longer space flights such as to Mars.

The industry of space health care grow economically enormously, so Bezdan. “I hope that through my work I can make Germany better known as a space science location.” The study from Tübingen was part of a package of 20 specialist articles on space research published in different journals published by Cell Press.

Recognizing cheerful places with Scott Kelly (20 Photos) Scott Kelly has the people on the ground keep guessing what he is currently about with his workplace.

(Image: NASA) (mho)