Astronaut’s gene expression no longer same as his identical twin, NASA finds
By Susan Scutti | CNN
Spending a year in space not only changes your outlook, it transforms your gene expression.
Preliminary results from NASA’s Twins Study reveal that 7% of astronaut Scott Kelly’s genetic expression — how his genes function within cells — did not return to baseline after his return to Earth two years ago.
The study looks at what happened to Kelly before, during and after he spent one year aboard the International Space Station through an extensive comparison with his identical twin, Mark, who remained on Earth.
Though Scott Kelly’s genetic expression changed, he and Mark are still identical. Changes in gene expression are how the human body reacts to the environment. Kelly’s transformation suggests longer-term alterations related to at least five biological pathways and functions.
