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- Generational mountains: Space flies will help protect people's genes on long-range flights
Generational mountains: Space flies will help protect people's genes on long-range flights
Russian scientists have bred a unique population of cosmic fruit flies-fruit flies. This is a genetic line in which five out of 14 generations were born in zero gravity and high radiation conditions in near-Earth orbits. During the process, persistent changes in the genes responsible for the preservation of hereditary material and the functioning of the nervous system have become entrenched in insects, which demonstrates the strong evolutionary pressure of the space environment. The discovery will help develop methods to protect human genetic material during long-term space travel and exploration of other planets.
When new populations arise
Scientists from the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences have bred a new space population of flies for the first time in the world. This is a unique line of fruit flies, drosophila, in which experts have traced the influence of cosmic factors - weightlessness and radiation — for 14 generations in a row, five of them were born in near—Earth orbits.
The founders of the "dynasty" of space flies were sent to the ISS in April 2025 as part of the 73rd expedition. The first generation of unearthly fruit flies was obtained from them at the station. In August, representatives of the seventh tribe of this lineage traveled on the Bion-M satellite No. 2. In this flight, the 9th-10th generations were born. Then their descendants were sent back to the ISS, where the 14th and 15th generations of insects were obtained in October and December.
As the researchers explained, 14 generations is an important biological milestone. It is believed that if during such an evolutionary period a group of organisms lives in isolation, then so many hereditary changes accumulate in it that a qualitatively new population arises.
— Persistent changes in the functioning of genes have been found in space insects, which confirms the rule. Particularly significant shifts have occurred in those parts of the genome that are responsible for repairing damaged DNA, cell structure, and the health of the nervous system. These transformations persist for at least seven generations, which indicates a profound environmental impact. In fact, we are on the way to breeding a new species of insect," Irina Ogneva, project manager and head of the Laboratory of Cell Biophysics at the IMBP RAS, told Izvestia.
The experiment demonstrated that cosmic conditions exert strong evolutionary pressure on organisms. As a result of these factors, living beings are forced to change in order to survive. At the same time, the changes that are taking place affect the most important systems. In particular, the mechanisms of protection of the genetic code, the formation of cells and the functioning of the nervous system. Thus, observations of several successive generations of fruit flies in orbit have shown that space can be an environment suitable for the creation of new biological forms.
How space flies will help protect the astronauts' genome
The practical value of the experiment, Irina Ogneva noted, may consist in the development of safe methods of long-range space flights from the point of view of maintaining visibility. In particular, humans and drosophila have about 50% of the total genome. Therefore, by studying insect DNA damage and ways to adapt them, scientists can develop drugs and protective methods to preserve astronauts' genomes during long-term interplanetary missions.
— During the research, some of the flies received bait, which blocks negative changes in cell structure and gene expression. Perhaps this is a prototype of future therapy for the conquerors of Mars. The next step is to study the complete genome of the "space" flies. Such work will help identify specific mutations and show how natural selection works in extraterrestrial environments," Irina Ogneva shared.
According to the scientist, the ideal solution for these purposes would be to study generations of insects on the orbital station during the full cycle of a six-month expedition. However, due to current biosafety requirements, this is not possible. In particular, astronauts are not allowed to transfer newly appeared flies to other boxes during the flight. Keeping the entire population in one container for six months is also problematic.
Perhaps the conditions necessary for conducting long-term experiments with fruit flies will be provided at the promising ROS station (Russian Orbital Station), which is currently being created.
How experiments in orbit help in terrestrial applications
— The genomes of flies and humans are arranged similarly, they seem to be influenced by the same factors. Weightlessness and especially radiation are important factors that hinder space exploration because they create health problems for people. Having obtained insects that successfully cope with such difficulties, and having figured out how it works, it is possible to develop tools that will help people during deep space flights," Peter Petrov, senior researcher at the Department of Entomology at the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University, told Izvestia.
In his opinion, it is possible that in the future scientists will learn how to correct something in the genome, making people more resistant to adverse space factors such as radiation or weightlessness. While it is unsafe, such experiments are prohibited in humans. But they can be carried out on flies. This brings closer the time when the knowledge gained will be able to help people.
— Drosophila is one of the most studied organisms. Their genome is completely decoded. In addition, the short life cycle (10-14 days) allows for a short period of time to observe several generations in a row. This makes it possible to distinguish accidental DNA damage from sustained adaptive changes. Space acts as an accelerator in these experiments. It allows the necessary genetic mechanisms to quickly manifest themselves," said Anastasia Lenkova, a Belarusian cosmonaut and researcher at the N.N. Alexandrov Russian National Research Center for Oncology and Medical Radiology.
The data obtained will also be in demand for terrestrial applications, she added, for example, for developments in the field of safe radiation therapy, studying the mechanisms of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. The knowledge gained during space experiments with flies will help protect the health of people who work in extreme conditions, such as polar explorers or employees of nuclear power plants.
At the same time, it should be understood that the human genome is always changing, this is the basis of evolution, Anastasia Lenkova explained. Therefore, in space conditions, it is important not to preserve DNA unchanged, but to prevent the chaotic and destructive nature of mutations.
At the same time, the main task is to preserve the functional integrity of the body, especially the nervous and reproductive systems. Guided adaptation will make it possible to increase a person's resistance to extreme conditions without violating his biological and personal identity, the expert concluded.
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