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What Exactly
Is Going On
at the ISS:
Why Are
These
Worm-Holes
Appearing
Everywhere:
To Advance
Hearteogenics
the
Volunteer-Worms
Flew Up So
Far |
|
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|| September 12: 2018: University of Exeter News || ά. Thousands of
worms are being flown to the
International Space Station
later this year for
scientists to understand
more about
spaceflight-induced muscle
loss, the first UK
experiment to take place on
the International Space
Station. A team of
scientists from the
Universities of Exeter,
Nottingham and Lancaster
involved in this project
hope to discover more about
muscle loss in space, which,
in turn, could lead to
developing effective
therapies and new treatments
for muscular dystrophies.
The research could, further, help boost our understanding about
ageing muscle loss and,
even, help improve
treatments for Diabetes.
It’s part of an important
project and the first UK
experiment to take place on
the International Space
Station. Spaceflight is an
extreme environment, that
causes many negative health
changes to the body and
astronauts can lose up to 40
per cent of their muscle
after six months in space.
These changes are regarded
as an excellent model for
the aging process in the
body and scientists are able
to use the knowledge gained
from studying changes in
astronauts to better
understand the aging human
body.
The microscopic worms being used in the experiment, known as, C.
Elegans, share many of the
essential biological
characteristics as humans
and are affected by
biological changes in space,
including, alterations to
muscle and the ability to
use energy.
Mr Sam Gyimah, Science Minister, said, ‘’It’s not every day that
you hear of the potential
health benefits of sending
worms into space but this
crucial project, which is,
also, the first of its kind,
could lead to better
treatment for muscular
conditions for people on
Earth, as well as, improving
the wellbeing of our
astronauts.
Along with our commitment through the modern Industrial Strategy to
support our space sector to
go from strength to
strength, our world-leading
research sector is
consistently pushing the
boundaries of existing
knowledge for the benefit of
all.”
Mr Tim Etheridge, Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter,
said, “Worms are, perhaps,
surprisingly, a very good
model for human muscle
maintenance. At the
molecular level, both
structurally and
metabolically, they are
highly similar to that of
humans and from a space
flight specific perspective,
they provide a lot of
practical advantages. They
are very small, quick to
grow, cheap and easy to
maintain. It makes them good
to work with.”
“The Molecular Muscle Experiment aims to understand the causes of
neuro-muscular decline in
space.” says Professor Nate
Szewczyk, of Space Biology
at the University of
Nottingham. “This research
will help us establish the
precise molecules, that
cause muscle problems during
spaceflight and enable us to
test the effectiveness of
novel therapies for
preventing the muscle
decline associated with
spaceflight.”
Preparations to send worms into space have been taking place. The
worms are in liquid
bacterial feed and are
sealed in a special gas
permeable plastic bag. The
plastic bags are, then,
housed in a special
incubator. The worms
reproduce in space and after
growing to adults, in around
06.5 days, they will be
frozen until returning to
Earth.
The Molecular Muscle Experiment is the first UK-led experiment to
take place on the
International Space Station.
UK scientists are able to
carry out this research
through the UK Space
Agency’s subscriptions to
the European Space Agency’s
exploration programme, which
contributes to the costs of
the International Space
Station, which the UK joined
in 2012.
Mr Tim Etheridge said, “Spaceflight represents the accelerated
human model of the ageing
condition and so, hopefully,
by understanding the
molecular changes it, may,
provide the opportunity to
understand human ageing on
earth.”
Ms Libby Jackson, Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme
Manager at the UK Space
Agency, said, “This is the
first of many exciting
experiments heading to the
International Space Station
from the UK, thanks to our
contributions to ESA. The
Molecular Muscle Experiment
will provide knowledge that
will benefit our
understanding of muscle
aging and help to improve
life on Earth.”
The project is supported by the European Space Agency, UK Space
Agency, BBSRC, MRC and
Arthritis Research UK and
the launch is currently
scheduled to take place
between November 2018 and
February 2019.
.:::ω.
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