Cell Biology Research & Applications

Profiles & Overviews | Flight Hardware | Links

Experiment/Mission Information

Experiments from the NASA Life Sciences Data Archive
Description: This link to the NASA Life Sciences Data Archive provides a list of relevant descriptions of flight experiments investigating cell & molecular biology.

Missions from the NASA Life Sciences Data Archive
Description: This link to the NASA Life Sciences Data Archive provides a list of relevant descriptions of space flight missions that carried experiments investigating cell & molecular biology.

Profiles & Overviews

Dead Sea Microbe Masters DNA Repair
Description: A microbe native to the Dead Sea, Halobacterium, is a master at DNA repair, which is crucial to surviving radiation. This article describes the experiments conducted with the microbe to better understand how these repair mechanisms work. From this knowledge, scientists will be able to learn more about DNA repair occurs in humans, which will be important for space exploration. (Posted on 10/04)

Genetic Basis of Microgravity Effects
Description: This article profiles research into how spaceflight affects gene expression, the basic process by which our DNA is activated to make proteins, and how this information might also help us better understand the effects of aging. (Posted on 10/04)

Genetic Factors in Gravity Sensing in Plants
Description: This article profiles research that so far has identified two genes associated with gravity sensing and signal transduction. (Posted on 10/04)

Mechanical Forces Regulate Cell Function
Description: Studies into how cells respond to mechanical forces such as gravity (or the lack thereof) has provided evidence that mechanical tension generated within the cytoskeleton regulates many biological functions. This profile describes the research that led to these findings and how a cell's shape seems to determine its function. (Posted on 10/04)

Neocytolysis: Destruction of Red Blood Cells
Description: Description: When astronauts return from space, they have fewer red blood cells than before they left. As explained in this article, research into why this occurs has resulted in discovery of a process called neocytolysis, which is the destruction of young red blood cells. (Posted on 10/04)

Radiation Threatens Blood-Making Cells
Description: The radiation astronauts encounter in deep space could put vital blood-making cells in jeopardy. This article profiles the research being conducted to better understand the risk and develop countermeasures. (Posted on 10/04)

Flight Hardware

Biorack US1 Experiment Hardware

Description: The Biorack US1 Experiment Hardware, developed to study the effects of microgravity and radiation on a variety of organisms, flew on the International Microgravity Laboratory 1 payload on the STS-42 mission. (Excerpt from Life into Space 1991-1998) (Posted on 10/04)

Biorack US2 Experiment Hardware

Description: The Biorack US2 Experiment Hardware, flown on the International Microgravity Laboratory 1 payload on the STS-42 mission, was designed to study the effects of microgravity and radiation on a cellular and genetic structures. (Excerpt from Life into Space 1991-1998) (Posted on 10/04)

Biorack US3 Experiment Hardware
Biorack US3 Image

Description: The Biorack US3 Experiment Hardware, flown on the International Microgravity Laboratory 1 payload on the STS-42 mission, was designed to study the effects of microgravity on cell cultures. (Excerpt from Life into Space 1991-1998) (Posted on 10/04)

Space Tissue Loss-A (STL-A) Module
STL-A Image

Description: The Space Tissue Loss-A (STL-A) Module, a completely automated cell culture facility, was used to study the effects of microgravity at the cellular and embryonic levels. It was flown on National Institutes of Health payloads on several Shuttle missions. (Excerpt from Life into Space 1991-1998) (Posted on 10/04)



Links

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Cell Biology Research at Space Medicine and Life Sciences Research Center
The NASA Space Medicine and Life Sciences Research Center at Morehouse School of Medicine conducts space biology and gravity research across several disciplines, including Cell Biology. An overview and staff profiles with research interests, related images, and relevant publications summarize the center's cell biology projects and findings.

Biological Systems Office
The NASA Biological Systems Office at Johnson Space Center manages and coordinates cell and molecular-based research for NASA, using technology and microgravity to address challenges in applied and fundamental cell science.