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NASA grows human tissue to assess deep space missions

The focus of the research by NASA is on human tissue, to see how the biochemistry alters in micro gravity conditions. This parallels earlier research which has looked at bones and the overall skeletal structure of people. The reasons for this are clear, as Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator for NASA, said in a statement: “The humans who will be our deep space pioneers are our most important resource on the Journey to Mars and beyond.”

For the research, NASA is working in collaboration with Methuselah Foundation’s New Organ Alliance. New Organ is a “public charity dedicated to advancing and celebrating regenerative technologies.” The charity is offering a prize to the first research group who can, as Nature World News reports, create a “metabolically-functional human vascularized organ tissue that can be artificially controlled.”

The competition was announced via the NASA YouTube channel:

The prize was also announced via the Methuselah Foundation (@mfoundation) twitter feed, where the scientific excitement was clearly expressed: “We’ve been looking forward to announcing this! Methuselah Foundation is taking a giant step forward; partnering…NASA.”

The aim is come up with a tissue sample small enough to be used with lab-on-a-chip technology. This will allow various parameters to be measured, including an assessment of space fatigue on healthy human cells.

The study needs to be run over a prolonged period of time. Even with technological advances, such as the Lockheed Martin Mars Orbiter, any mission to Mars (and hopefully back) will take many months.

There are other logistical problems associated with getting people into deep space (such as a mission to Mars.) Outside of fiscal and technological restraints radiation, for instance, presents a significant problem.

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Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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