ANTARAIKSA — Japan is indeed beyond expectations. Now they are testing whether humans can reproduce in microgravity conditions in space. To test this, Japanese scientists implanted mouse embryos on the International Space Station (ISS).
Surprisingly, the first study showed encouraging results; The embryo develops normally in microgravity. “Shows it is possible for humans to reproduce in space,” said
Professor of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology at Yamanashi University, Teruhiko Wakayama, was involved in the research at the end of October 2023.
Teruhiko Wakayama and scientists from the Japan Space Agency (JAXA), sent frozen mouse embryos to the ISS in August 2021. They then thawed the early-stage embryos using a specially designed device and grew them for four days.
“Embryos cultured under microgravity conditions develop normally into blastocysts, cells that develop into fetuses and placentas,” said the Japanese scientists.
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According to them, the experiment clearly shows that gravity does not have a significant effect on the reproduction of mammals, especially humans. The research has been published online in the scientific journal iScience.
The researchers also said they had analyzed the blastocyst after it was brought back to a laboratory on Earth. As a result, there were no significant changes in the condition of the DNA and genes.
“This is the first study to show mammals may be able to reproduce in space,” said Yamanashi University and the national research institute Riken in a joint statement.
The research is the first experiment to culture early-stage mammalian embryos under the microgravity of the ISS. The researchers emphasized that it is important to transplant blastocysts cultured in ISS microgravity into mice directly. “This was to see whether the mice could give birth, and ensure that the blastocysts were normal,” the researchers said.
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Such research may be important considering plans for future space exploration and colonization missions. Under the Artemis program, NASA plans to send humans back to the moon. Astronauts will learn how to live there long-term to prepare for a trip to Mars.
Meanwhile China and its partner Russia also have the same mission to the moon this decade. Space exploration will involve human settlement on the moon. Source: phys.org
2023-11-18 01:04:00
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