Astronaut’s genetic expression changed by time in space

Story highlights 93% of Scott Kelly's genetic expression returned to normal once he returned to Earth However, a subset of several hundred "space genes" remained disrupted CNN — Spending a year in space not only changes your outlook, it transforms your gene expression. Preliminary results from NASA’s Twins Study reveal that 7% of astronaut Scott Kelly’s genetic expression – how his genes function within cells – did not return to baseline after his return to Earth two years ago. ‘Space genes’ The newest preliminary results from this unique study of Kelly, now retired from NASA, were released at the 2018 Investigator’s Workshop for NASA’s Human Research Program in January. In particular, Chris Mason of Weill Cornell Medicine reported on the activation of Kelly’s “space genes” while confirming the results of his separate NASA study, published last year. Although 93% of Kelly’s genetic expression returned to normal once he returned to Earth, a subset of several hundred “space genes” remained disrupted.