Effects of microgravity on cell-level cardiac function and gene expression | Hacker News Reader

Effects of microgravity on cell-level cardiac function and gene expression

cell.com

50 pointsbookofjoe8 comments

<Space-flown hiPSC-CMs [human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes] exhibited unchanged Ca2+ transient amplitude but showed a significant increase in transient decay tau (Figures 3E and S1) that is indicative of a decreased calcium recycling rate.

We also observed an increase in the standard deviation of beating intervals (Figure 3F) in space-flown hiPSC-CMs, indicating beating irregularity.

These results suggest that calcium-handling-related parameters remain altered for space-flown hiPSC-CMs following return to normal gravity.>

We are waiting for the appearance of the Space Human.

Where is Kevin Costner, we need a Waterworld version for microgravity...

Seriously though, I would expect humans to evolve to adapt to Mars gravity, space station microgravity/nongravity, and so on.

Or future generations are stuck running on treadmills a lot, living on huge spinning space stations to simulate gravity effects on the body.

You don't even need the waterworld reference. There is a great series of books (and now a TV show) where "Belters" are space adapted humans. It turns into an interesting, if not pretty depressing, racism problem between those that grew up "down the well" instead of in space.

For people interested, the series (and tv show) is called "The Expanse".

Only last week discovered this and binged the current 3 seasons, not met a sci fi series that got me as excited since Babylon 5. Hard to pin it down as well as has so much of everything that it is unique in itself, highly recommended.

Yikes. I thought I mentioned this, thanks!

I'm far from an expert in molecular biology but I assume most changes revert to baseline almost immediately upon return to terrestrial gravity.

Temptation here is envision a biofactory in which microgravity cells and tissues are grown in space. And then transplanted into the wealthy humans on Earth who can afford it. Endowing them with superhuman strength and intellect. A compelling sci-fi writing prompt. But we are still at the phase where we are just trying to figure out what long-term human spaceflight does to our physiology.

Personally, I find this level of Science borderline miraculous. The fact we are able to explore genetic expression in stem cells, get it to LEO labs at $100000/kg, and distribute the data instantly across the Earth is a kind of science fiction come to Life. Despite the fact it may not reflect the actual effects in living breathing astronauts working in deep space. The only way to properly answer those questions, of course, is a planet wide effort in exploration and colonization ;)

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