Researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Engineering have developed a genetically modified (transgenic) lettuce that produces a drug to protect against bone density loss in microgravity.
Human bones are constantly balanced between growth and resorption, allowing them to respond to injury or changes in exercise. Spending time in microgravity upsets this balance and pushes bones towards resorption. As a result, astronauts lose bone mass. This problem can be treated with a drug called parathyroid hormone or PTH (Parathormone) and regular injections.
Kevin Yates, a graduate student in the UC Davis Department of Chemical Engineering working with Professor Karen McDonald and Assistant Professor Somen Nandi, is a genetically modified (transgenic) lettuce that combines PTH (Parathormone) with part of the human antibody protein and expresses the fusion protein. developed.
The fusion protein is designed to be stable in the bloodstream, allowing astronauts to potentially purify medicine from plant extracts, Nandi said.
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Nandi said there are many benefits to growing plants in space. A mission to Mars can take several years to complete. In the experiences gained from the International Space Station; He said the food grown inside the space station, in addition to the prepackaged meals, is a great morale booster for the astronauts.
Long space flights also require the supply of drugs such as PTH (Parathormon). However, the expiration dates of traditional medicines will come to an end in this long journey. That's why astronauts need ways to replenish their gear.
Nandi said that with the genetically modified (transgenic) plant seeds they will carry, astronauts will both maintain their weight and potentially have a new source of fresh medicine.
Ideally, the drug should be in an oral form. So astronauts can dose themselves with PTH (Parathormone) by eating lettuce leaves. But if that doesn't work, they still need to be able to extract the drug from the plants and purify it.