Astronauts' blood shows signs of DNA mutations due to spaceflight

[sl8]

https://www.space.com/astronaut-spaceflight-cancer-dna-mutations-study

Astronauts' blood shows signs of DNA mutations due to spaceflight

By Elizabeth Howell
published 1 day ago

The researchers stored astronaut blood for 20 years to see how short space shuttle flights affected spaceflyer health.

Astronaut cancer risk needs careful monitoring, concludes a study that stored spaceflyer blood for 20 years.

All fourteen astronauts in the study, from NASA's space shuttle program, had DNA mutations in blood-forming stem cells, a Nature Communications Biology study Aug. 31 concluded. The mutations, though unusually high considering the astronauts' age, was below a key threshold of concern, however.

While the study is unique for keeping astronaut blood around for so long, the results are not show-stopping. Rather, the researchers suggest that astronauts should be subject to periodic blood screening to keep an eye on possible mutations. (And it should be considered in context; another 2019 study, for example, found that astronauts are not dying from cancer due to ionizing space radiation.)

[...]

Nature Communications Biology study (pdf):
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-022-03777-z.pdf

[Mike Nelson]

1. Hmm...

... I wonder if the mutations are all bad? The article seems to treat mutations as possibly damaging - with cancer being a concern. But it seemed like the cancer risk was low. And, if females had less DNA "damage," maybe more astronauts should be female?

... I hope they test any children born after space time. Maybe we can develop a lineage of space travelers!

[RicROC]

2. I wonder if there is a study of mutations found in military veterans,

who have served in area of conflict where Agent Orange, uranium tipped weapons, burn pits, etc. were common.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Recent findings have me questioning Natural Selection.

If DNA mutates because of changes in the environment, then doesn't it follow that the DNA we carry today is the result of responses to the environment rather than random mutations that favored survival?

Just musing.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Adapt or die.

One of the ideas behind survival of the fittest and DNA mutations.

So random changes in DNA which match environmental changes would load on survival.