EXPERIMENT INFORMATION
Possible Effects of Zero Gravity on Radiation-Induced Somatic Damage (P-1160)
Research Area:
Developmental biology
Radiation biology
Species Studied
Scientific Name: Drosophila melanogaster Species: Fruit fly
Objectives:To determine to what extent weightlessness may affect the responses of somatic cells to ionizing gamma radiation, immature stages (instar/pupal stages) of the fruit fly were studied in conjunction with space flight and irradiation dose. Highly specialized strains of the fruit fly were developed and later modified to meet the needs of the Biosatellite program.
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Approach:
Sixty first instar larvae were placed in each of the eight flight modules. Ten first instar larvae with ring chromosomes were selected for cytologic preparations. Additional larvae were added to bring the count to 290. After flight the larvae were examined for visual chromosome changes and some were allowed to develop and breed. The larvae were exposed to a dose of 1,200 to 1,500 r of 85Sr; one unit was shielded. A similar configuration was used on ground controls, with three additional controls being maintained. One important aspect of this experiment was the incorporation of a ring-shaped X chromosome into some of the strands used. In experimental conditions, ring chromosomes can persist as stable entities until subject to breakage, serving to greatly amplify the sensitivity of this system.
Results:
Although radiation did increase somatic and reproductive cell mortality, it did so irrespective of whether the larvae had been subject to the particular conditions present during flight (including weightlessness). However, a higher mortality of orbited larvae than ground radiation-exposed larvae was noted with no detectable difference in developmental time. Chromosomes flown and irradiated showed a statistically significant increase in chromosome change over controls. Sex- linked recessive lethals and crossing over were enhanced when the radiation was delivered under conditions of weightlessness. Data suggest that radiation interacts with weightlessness to induce more premature aging and chromosome damage in actively growing and metabolizing specimens than in those irradiated on Earth. Possibly some factor, more than likely weightlessness, is capable of causing improper chromosome separation and formation of chromosome translations.
Oster I.I. and D.E. Good: Irradiation of Drosophila Under Spaceflight Conditions. Radiation Research, vol. 35, 1968, p. 500.
Oster, I.I.: Genetic Effects of Zero Gravity and Radiation. Japanese Journal of Genetics, vol. 43, 1968, pp. 462-463.
Oster, I.I.: Genetic Effects Produced by the Space Environment. Life Sciences and Space Research: Proceedings of the 12th Plenary Meeting, Prague, Czechoslovakia, May 11-14, 1969, North Holland Publishing, 1970, pp. 95-96.
Oster, I.I.: Genetic Implications of Spaceflight. BIOSPEX: Biological Space Experiments, NASA TM-58217, 1979, p. 127.
Oster, I.I.: Genetic Implications of Spaceflight. The Experiments of Biosatellite II, NASA SP-204, 1971, pp. 41-54.
Aging
Cell aging
Cell survival
Chromosome aberrations
Chromosome breakage
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Chromosomes
Cytology
Radiation
Radiation dosage
Survival rate
Data Availability
Archive is complete. No data sets are available for this experiment. Please
Contact LSDA if you know of available data for this investigation.
Damage, Chromosome, drosophila (fruit fly), insect, Microscopy, markers
Morphology, Aging, drosophila, Age-associated degenerative changes, gross photography, scanning electron microscopy
Morphology, Chromosome breakage, larvae, drosophila, Microscopy
Morphology, Cytogenesis, larvae, drosophila, Microscopy
Morphology, Genetic defects, larvae, drosophila, Microscopy
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Radiation, dose, Provided, for study of synergism with weightlessness
Survival rate, Larvae, fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), Observation (number)
Mission/Study Information
Mission
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Launch/Start Date
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Landing/End Date
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Duration
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Biosatellite II
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09/07/1967
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09/09/1967
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2 days
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Managing NASA Center
Ames Research Center (ARC)
Responsible NASA Representative
Ames Research Center LSDA Level 3
Project Manager: Sylvain Costes
Institutional Support
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Alternate Experiment Name
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