1. Your DNA Experiment in Space!
Genes in Space
Your DNA Experiment in Space!

2. Welcome to Genes in Space
This is a video

3. A new era in human space exploration
Right now NASA and space programs around the world are preparing for the next manned missions beyond earth – to the moon, Mars, and beyond
Photo credit – NASA

4. Effect of long-term spaceflight missions on… Humans? Plants? Microbes?
However, many questions remain about how the human body and the organisms we bring to space with us – either intentionally as food or unintentionally like our microbiome – will respond to months or even years exposed to microgravity, cosmic radiation, and other environmental conditions in space
Photo credit – NASA

5. The International Space Station National Lab
Currently the ISS serves as a place where we can begin to answer some of these questions:
World’s only microgravity facility
Test bed for deep space exploration
Continuous human presence in space since 2001
Can be seen with the naked eye -
and
(Videos about the station itself and life on the station)
Find video of ISS assembly or Katie Rubins with Francis Collins interview soundbites
Photo credit – Boeing

6. DNA Sequencing in Space (since August 2016)
We are now beginning to have the molecular biology tools to answer questions in space biology. The first DNA sequencing took place in space in August 2016 – conducted by Astronaut Kate Rubins and led by NASA microbiologist Sarah Wallace, and others Cool video:
Photo credit – NASA

7. YOU can be a space biology pioneer!
Genes in Space challenges middle and high school students to contribute to this growing space research field by proposing a DNA experiment for space. In 2017 Genes in Space announced 2 winners – Elizabeth Reizis from New York and Sophia Chen from Washington. Elizabeth hopes to develop an assay to measure immune function in space and Sophia plans to study genomic instability in microgravity. Planned launch for both experiments – spring 2018.
Photo credit – CASIS

8. Genes in Space 2018: Join us in exploration
Photo credit – miniPCR

9. Submitting your idea is simple
2015 Genes in Space winner Anna-Sophia Boguraev
Photo credit – miniPCR

10. Step 1: Identify an open question
Address a challenges or opportunity of space flight. Lots of resources for finding problems:
Challenges – study the effects of cosmic conditions on humans and organisms we bring with us to space, develop ways to keep people healthy in space, bioengineer plants and other organisms to thrive in space conditions, etc.
Opportunities – can we do things in space that we cannot do on earth (ex develop new biotech or medicines, study natural selection in a new environment, discover alien life)?

11. Step 2: Formulate a hypothesis
2017 Finalist Maxwell Allison
Photo credit – CASIS

12. Hypothesis: Space flight causes changes in telomere length.
Anna-Sophia Boguraev
Fox Lane High School
Bedford, NY
Hypothesis: Space flight causes changes in epigenetic regulation of the immune system.
In space April 2016
Julian Rubinfien
Stuyvesant High School
New York, NY
Hypothesis: Space flight causes changes in telomere length.
In space April 2017
Alia Al Mansoori
Al Mawakeb School
United Arab Emirates
Hypothesis: Space flight changes expression of genes that could prevent unwanted cell death.
In space August 2017
Some examples of Genes in Space winning hypothesizes.

13. Step 3: Why aboard the Space Station?
The ISS is an expensive resource, it is difficult and expensive to get samples to space and astronaut time is precious. Tell us why your experiment needs to be done in space. This is Astronaut Peggy Whitson conducting Genes in Space winner, Alia Al Mansoori’s experiment on ISS
Photo credit – NASA

14. First PCR in Space: Genes in Space experiment by a high school student!
THIS IS A VIDEO However, until recently, the tools needed to ask questions about changes to DNA were not available on ISS. In fact, Anna-Sophia, the first winner of Genes in Space designed the first ever PCR experiment in space! Your idea could be the next pioneering experiment in space! Video:

15. Step 4: Experimental Plan - use PCR!
Applying to Genes in Space is free and does NOT require you to actually do the experiments. You must make use of PCR in space in your experimental proposal. PCR can be used to help keep astronauts safe and to answer all kinds of interesting questions in space and on Earth too!
Photo credit – miniPCR

16. Genes in Space 2018: Apply Today!
1/16 – Contest opens
4/20 – Submissions due
5/22 – Finalists announced
7/26 – Winner announced
Space Biology Camp – Aug-Sept 2018

17. Genes in Space 2018: Apply Today!
Facebook.com/GenesInSpace