image: These are identical Twins Scott and Mark Kelly. view more
Credit: NASA/Time
If you took all the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in your body and strung it end-to-end, it would reach all the way to Pluto and back. The Twins Study, looking at the effects of space on the human body at the genetic level by studying identical twins Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly, investigates far more than DNA and has generated a vast amount of data. It includes researching proteins, metabolites, gut microbes, telomeres, RNA (ribonucleic acid), epigenomes and how all the various molecules interact in the human body. Research investigators recently met in Houston to discuss the volumes of data and their initial findings to collaborate on a path forward.
John Charles, Ph.D., chief scientist for NASA's Human Research Program and head of the Twins Study, said, "We completed the final data collections so the purpose of this meeting was to inform each other of those findings, learn from each other and look for synergies to prepare for a summary paper."
Preliminary findings were discussed in January at the Human Research Program's annual Investigators' Workshop in Galveston. This latest investigators meeting was to discuss the integrated findings. Integration helps identify correlations and confirm preliminary findings or modify those findings with new insights. When the integrated data is ready, the summary of results will likely be published in early 2018. After that, individual investigators will publish theme papers with more detailed findings of the various investigations.
The Twins Study is the first study of its kind to conduct full multi-omics profiles on identical twin astronauts. Comparing nearly identical genes enables researchers to focus on the space stressors and other changes that may be taking place in the body. Many researchers combine as many as two to three types of data, but this study is one that is collecting many different types of big data and an immense amount of information. These findings, from sifting through the data for these investigations, aim to help NASA take its next big leap for a human journey to Mars.
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The Twins Study is managed by NASA's Human Research Program (HRP). HRP is dedicated to discovering the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel, and enables space exploration by reducing the risks to human health and performance using ground research facilities, the International Space Station, and analog environments. This leads to the development and delivery of a program focused on: human health, performance, and habitability standards; countermeasures and risk mitigation solutions; and advanced habitability and medical support technologies. HRP supports innovative, scientific human research by funding more than 300 research grants to respected universities, hospitals and NASA centers to over 200 researchers in more than 30 states.
Amy Blanchett
Laurie Abadie
NASA Human Research Engagement & Communications