Mice Embryos Successfully Grown at International Space Station, Hinting at Possibility of Human Reproduction in Space
Japanese scientists have announced a groundbreaking study carried out at the International Space Station (ISS), where embryos of mice were successfully grown and developed normally, indicating the potential for human propagation in space.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Yamanashi’s Center of Advanced Biotechnologies, led by Professor Teruhiko Wakayama, in collaboration with a team from the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). In August 2021, frozen mice embryos were sent to the ISS for the experiment.
During their stay at the space station, the astronauts defrosted the embryos using a special device and allowed them to grow for four days. The results were astounding, as the embryos developed normally in conditions of microgravity, reaching the blastocyst stage, which is crucial for further development into a fetus and placenta.
The study, published in the scientific journal iScience, highlighted that the experiment clearly demonstrated that gravity does not have a significant impact on embryonic development in space. Analysis of the blastocysts that were sent back to Earth revealed no significant changes in the DNA and gene state.
In a joint statement, Yamanashi University and the Riken National Research Institute acknowledged that this was the first study to show that mammals can thrive and develop normally in space. The next step in the research will involve transplanting a blastocyst grown on the ISS into mice to determine if healthy offspring can be born.
These studies hold great importance for future space missions focused on exploration and colonization. As part of the NASA-led “Artemis” program, there are plans to send humans back to the moon to study the feasibility of long-term habitation, which will contribute to preparations for a manned mission to Mars by the 2030s.