Astronauts’ Blood Reveals Mutations After Prolonged Time In Space

An extensive study spanning over 20 years reveals that astronauts’ blood has developed throughout the years and could cause problems down the line. 

Astronauts’ stem cells were collected from 14 different subjects between the years of 1998 and 2001, and Mount Sinai later compared them against samples from the astronauts’ current blood, discovering 34 nonsynonymous mutations in their genes. 

The DNA mutations, while worrying, still have no serious consequences and are below the threshold of concern for doctors, the research team assures.

Still, as space teams rush to head back to the moon and venture into deep space, the experiment’s findings raise new concerns about space travel. Health issues such as bone development after a prolonged time in zero gravity and cardiovascular disease, for instance, could arise later on.

According to Space.com, Dr David Goukassian, the lead author of the study, has stated that while the blood has mutated, it is not confirmation that the astronauts will develop such diseases. He also states that being exposed to such extreme conditions in deep space could increase the risk further.

The space industry has been called into question for its health risks previously. The new study sheds light on a potential problem, but more research is still needed into what exactly is causing the mutations themselves, as scientists are still trying to understand if it was the flight itself, being out in space, or a combination of things that are warping DNA. 
  
  
  
[via Space.com and BGR, Photo 154126428 © Alteraposto | Dreamstime.com]