Sunday, November 23, 2014

Plants Return to Earth after Growing in Space

     More than one thousand plants were put into deep freeze and sent to the International Space Station in order to determine the effect of microgravity on plant growth. As the plants are thawed, their RNA will be sampled using an instrument that will determine the activity of their approximately 30,000 genes. Gravity itself is a force that strongly affects biology, as humans who spend a prolonged period of time in space show decreased bone mass as it is not required to support weight. Similarly, plants that are grown in low-gravity environments grow taller and thinner, and tend to have less structural support.


     Genes produce RNA which then code for separate proteins in the genetic process called transcription. By observing the genetic expression of plants grown in microgravity versus an identical group grown on Earth, the influence of microgravity on plant genes can be determined. It has been shown that plants grown with a lack of physical adversity, such as rain or wind, tend to be less strong and are more susceptible to diseases and pests. Plants grown in space tend to be more vulnerable to diseases due to the same mechanism. Therefore, by determining how to grow plants in space that are resistant to disease, it will be easier to provide food and oxygen for astronauts in the near future.


     I find this article interesting because it directly relates genetic expression to physical adversity. As scientists are able to determine how to grow plants that are less susceptible to disease, it will become more efficient to send astronauts to the International Space Station. In addition, astronauts will be able to go on longer trips if they can produce their own food without worry, meaning that humans will be able to explore more of space after this experiment is completed.

     

1 comment:

  1. I would never have thought to imagine what happens to plants in space! It's no surprise in the similarity to how the lack of gravity affects plants the same way humans are affected in space. If a way to grow healthier plants in space is discovered, it will be a great benefit for astronauts who are on longer voyages and can produce their own food. I'm very excited to see what will come out of this research in the future.

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