Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In a pioneering scientific feat, mouse embryos have been cultivated aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the very first time, opening new avenues for exploring human reproduction possibilities in space.
According to a report published by the popular science magazine, New Scientist, this groundbreaking research was led by Professor Teruhiko Wakayama from the University of Yamanashi in Japan, who has embarked on a mission to unravel the feasibility of human reproduction beyond Earth.
The journey began with the extraction of two-cell stage mouse embryos from pregnant mice. These embryos were then carefully frozen and transported to the ISS via a SpaceX rocket launched from Florida in August 2021.
On the ISS, the embryos were stored in specially designed devices that facilitated their thawing and cultivation by astronauts. After a brief four-day stay in space, the embryos were preserved chemically and sent back to Earth.
The four-day period was chosen because embryos can only endure outside a uterus for this duration. This timeframe enabled the research team to determine whether the embryos' development was affected by the unique space conditions, including radiation exposure and microgravity.
To the researchers' surprise, the embryos displayed no signs of DNA damage from radiation exposure. This can be attributed to their short time spent in space. Moreover, they exhibited normal structural development, including the critical differentiation into two cell groups forming the fetus and placenta.
The fact that embryos maintained their structural integrity under space conditions is highly significant. Until now, it was speculated that microgravity could impede the embryos' ability to differentiate into these distinct cell types.
Previous studies involving pregnant rats on NASA spaceflights hinted at normal development during gestation. These rats gave birth to offspring of typical weight upon returning to Earth, affirming that standard development is feasible in space.
Although these findings are promising, the actual delivery of a mouse pup or a full-term human baby under microgravity conditions remains uncertain. More research is required to fully understand the intricacies of space reproduction.
Wakayama's team is now gearing up to investigate whether mouse embryos cultured in space can be implanted into female mice, offering insights into their viability and potential challenges. The researchers are also exploring the creation of embryos through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) using mouse sperm and eggs in the space environment.