Researchers have pioneered a groundbreaking CRISPR/Cas9 method to investigate how cells repair DNA damage in space.
DNA damage occurs naturally or from environmental factors. In space, high-energy cosmic radiation—particles racing near light speed—poses the biggest threat to astronauts by disrupting or fracturing DNA molecules, elevating cancer risks and other health issues.
On Earth, cells employ strategies like homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining to mend damaged DNA. But space's microgravity and radiation complicate this. Past technological and safety barriers limited studies, until now: scientists have launched an experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to assess these repair pathways in orbit.
CRISPR/Cas9, a revolutionary bacterial-derived tool, precisely "cuts" DNA at targeted sites, powering recent advances in genetic engineering for animal and plant cells.
Genes in Space researchers applied CRISPR to induce controlled DNA damage in yeast cells, enabling detailed observation of repair mechanisms under microgravity. The focus: double-strand breaks, a critical instability trigger.
The team confirmed the method's success in yeast, marking the first CRISPR/Cas9 genome edit in space.
While a milestone for space genetics, CRISPR breaks differ from radiation-induced ones. Researchers aim to refine the technique for more accurate simulations, illuminating long-duration spaceflight's toll on human health.
