Re:Scientists found genetic mutations in every astronaut blo...
by WalterBright on Friday September 09, 2022 @01:49PM
(#32782561)
People who fly a lot get significant cosmic radiation exposure.
Re:Scientists found genetic mutations in every astronaut blo...
by DoreenMichele on Friday September 09, 2022 @09:18PM
(#32786736)
Thank you very much. This is what I was thinking, more or less, and didn't know how to effectively articulate.
> We obtained de-identified whole blood samples from 14 astronauts who flew relatively short Space Shuttle missions (median 12 days) between 1998–2001. These samples were stored at −80°C for ~20 years. Blood samples were collected 10 days before flight, the day of landing, and 3 days after landing12. However, for this specific study, only samples from 3 days after landing (R + 3) were collected as buffy coats (peripheral blood mononuclear cells - PBMCs).
One of the issues here is of the biased sample set. To say that astronauts are drawn from a small pool is a severe understatement. All astronauts from the stated era have,
And they've all done, Additionally, during this period, unless they were an international astronaut, Of course, not all of these factors will impact their DNA, but the selection and similar life experiences creates a unique problem. Until we send more people up, we won't have enough data to say how space travel impacts and mutates us.