The crew of the ISS just took the first step towards making the orbital laboratory a little safer for its inhabitants. For the first time ever, NASA astronauts have sequenced DNA in microgravity. The experiment was actually a test to see if a MiniION portable DNA sequencer would work in orbit — so far it does. The samples tested on the ISS produced the same results as a control group back on earth. If further tests pan out, astronauts will be able to use the sequencer to test microbes found on ISS surfaces.
It’s a little weird to think of the International Space Station as a potential breeding ground for unwanted organisms, but it is an enclosed environment — and NASA says it occasional finds fungus that needs to be tested. This usually means waiting until crew returns to earth, but having a sequencer in orbit could allow crew to more quickly determine if fungi or microbes found on ISS surfaces are a health hazard. The sequencer can also be used to make sure the station’s water reclamation system is working properly or to analyse experiment results without returning them to NASA itself.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWdkZhYqMgo?list=PL8F7BC3F1240213F5&wmode=opaque]
NASA says the sequencer will also be helpful on future Mars missions — giving astronauts the tools they need to protect their health on the long journey. Before it can be used for any of that, however, it still needs to go through a few more tests. Check out NASA’s official announcement for more details.
Source: NASA