Why do researchers think that a type of lemur holds the key to long-term space travel?


by

Allan Hopkins

In recent years, space development has become active worldwide, NASA is promoting the Artemis program aiming for a manned lunar landing by 2024, and manned Mars exploration is also becoming a reality. As humans advance into space, researchers at Carleton College are focusing on the gray mouse lemur , which is a type of lemur, as 'holding the key to long-term space travel.'

Hibernating lemurs may be the key to cryogenic sleep for human space travel
https://theconversation.com/hibernating-lemurs-may-be-the-key-to-cryogenic-sleep-for-human-space-travel-148408

First outside the atmosphere, then the moon, then Mars, and so on, as the position that humans aim to reach moves farther away from the earth, it takes longer to move in outer space. Researchers point out that space is not a comfortable place for humans, although astronauts need to be healthy to fulfill their long-term missions.

There is no oxygen or gravity in very cold outer space, nor is there an atmosphere or magnetic field that protects us from the constant harmful cosmic rays . In addition, if humans who have evolved to adapt to the gravity of the earth spend a long time in an environment with low gravity, they do not have to work against gravity, which causes problems such as a decrease in muscle mass and bone density.

In order to solve these problems, human beings are taking measures such as building a spacecraft that protects the occupants safely and installing equipment for strength training, and the effect of spending time in outer space on the human body. We are also investigating . However, no powerful method has been developed to address many medical problems, including effects on the immune system and vision . In addition to this, researchers are also facing logistical problems such as the allocation of food and supplies to be loaded on the spacecraft, and long-term isolation problems during space flight.



Researchers are paying attention to the possibility of solving some problems related to various long-term space travel, '

hibernation ' in which animals survive severe winters with significantly suppressed or stopped metabolic activity. is. Being able to hibernate and transport humans on a spacecraft to their destination raises many issues such as long-term isolation and health concerns, the amount of food and water loaded on the spacecraft, and the size of the spacecraft. Researchers claim that it can be mitigated.

Animals that hibernate can survive the winter without experiencing significant loss of muscle or bone density, although they do not eat or exercise for extended periods of time. The ability to leave only the biological functions necessary for sustaining life and turn off only the functions that use a lot of energy is said to be the key to surviving space travel to distant stars.

Unfortunately, humans are not hibernating animals, and there is a new challenge: 'How can we safely hibernate humans and restore them at the right time without weakening muscles and bones?' There is. Therefore, researchers are paying attention to an animal called the gray mouse lemur of the family Cheirogaleidae , which hibernates while being a primate that is biologically similar to humans.


by Leonora (Ellie) Enking

One of the unique characteristics of the gray mouse lemur is that it 'can enter hibernation without significantly lowering body temperature' when food is low and the temperature gets cold. Many mammals have a hibernating body temperature below 10 degrees Celsius , but it is difficult for humans to sustain life at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, if you can hibernate while maintaining your body temperature like the gray mouse lemur, it will be easier to maintain your life during hibernation.

Underpinning the special ability of gray mouse lemur to hibernate without lowering body temperature is microRNAs that regulate gene expression without altering the gene code itself. By utilizing the microRNA strategy used by gray mouse lemurs to regulate gene expression, reversible changes that may help human hibernation may be obtained.

Researchers are investigating how microRNAs control which biological processes continue to sustain life and which processes are blocked to save energy. Previous studies have shown that some microRNAs reduce muscle wasting, prevent cell death, slow or stop unwanted cell growth, and switch fuel from sugar to fat during hibernation. Seems to know.

MicroRNAs are also just part of the puzzle of solving human hibernation, and researchers are also investigating how gray mice can protect cells from stress and store energy to survive hibernation. That thing. 'We look forward to contributing to our research in new RNA-based interventions that are attracting attention as feasible for humans,' the researchers said.



in Science,   Creature, Posted by log1h_ik