As humanity sets its sights on the uncharted realms beyond Earth’s boundaries, it raises new questions about our future, particularly concerning the ability to propagate the species in the challenging conditions of space. Can we successfully reproduce and nurture new humans in the microgravity and radiation-rich environment beyond Earth’s atmosphere? Recent experimentation has provided a somewhat promising yet uncertain response.
For the first time, researchers have managed to cultivate and nurture mammalian embryos in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting about 400 kilometers above Earth’s surface. This groundbreaking experiment, led by molecular biologist Teruhiko Wakayama from the University of Yamanashi, has demonstrated that, at least initially, mouse embryos can survive in the space environment.
Wakayama emphasized the significance of this research in the context of potential future missions to Mars, where journeys could take over six months. He stated, “There is a possibility of pregnancy during a future trip to Mars because it will take more than six months to travel there. We are conducting research to ensure we will be able to safely have children if that time comes.”
The question of whether mammalian fetuses can develop in microgravity has intrigued scientists for some time. In a 2009 study led by Wakayama, it was found that simulated microgravity had adverse effects on embryonic development. While ova could be fertilized in microgravity, implantation of the fertilized ova was less successful.
However, the recent experiment focused on the early development of the embryo. Mouse embryos were fertilized, developed to the two-cell stage, frozen, and then transported to the ISS, where astronauts cultured them in a specially designed machine. Over a four-day period, the embryos were preserved in paraformaldehyde and returned to Earth for analysis.
A first! These mouse embryos were grown in space
The experiment involved multiple sets of embryos. One group was cultured on Earth under normal gravity conditions for comparison. Another control group on the ISS was cultured in simulated Earth gravity. Finally, there was the microgravity experiment group.
The survival rate of embryos in space was lower than on Earth, but those that did survive developed normally. Gravity itself did not appear to significantly affect the formation and initial differentiation of mammalian embryos, as both the microgravity and simulated Earth gravity groups displayed similar characteristics to the control group on Earth.
However, it’s important to note that this research did not account for the effects of radiation, which is considerably higher in space. The development was also halted at the blastocyst stage, and the outcomes of in utero development remain unknown.
Moreover, previous studies involving pregnant rodents exposed to space conditions showed negative effects, such as hindered vestibular development and a higher rate of health complications in the offspring. Research from 2005 indicated that normal fetal musculoskeletal development requires gravity loading.
In summary, while this experiment offers some hope for mammalian reproduction in space, more extensive research is needed to fully understand the effects of space conditions on fetal development. The researchers stress the importance of continuing these investigations before the ISS becomes unavailable, as it is vital to prepare for the challenges of reproduction in the space age.
References: https://www.sciencealert.com/in-a-huge-first-mouse-embryos-have-been-grown-in-space
https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(23)02254-X
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