Identical twin studies are always interesting, but this study tops them all. Mark and Scott Kelly are identical twins who work for NASA. Scott Kelly spent a year in outer space to become the ultimate test of how the human body reacts to the environment. Because Mark and Scott have identical DNA, scientists were able to determine exactly what happens to both the human body and DNA after spending a year in outer space. The findings will be used to help plan future long-term missions to Mars.
https://www.nasa.gov/twins-study
There are a lot of links for you to explore. Please write a scholarly paragraph about what you learned. Does this make you want to volunteer to be the astronaut that spends a significant amount of time on Mars? If Scott's telomeres were longer, do you think that going into outer space reverses the aging process? Do you think that Mark Kelly wishes he was the twin that went into outer space?
As I read the article “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings”, I found it interesting that one twin brother went to space while the other stayed at Earth. This was a nature vs. nurture study. The Twins Study brought ten researcher teams to accomplish the goal to find out what happens to the human body after spending one year in space. Scott Kelley had the opportunity to go into space to experiment and accomplish this goal. I thought this was cool that even though only one brother got to go out into space, both brothers experience the nature vs nurture.
ReplyDeleteI also related this control groups vs experimental groups. This must have been a experiment with a wide range of data considering there is so many aspects to it all.
DeleteHow did they decide what twin went to space?
DeleteI thought this was really interesting and it made me wonder if I would want to do this if I was asked
DeleteI wonder what would have happened if they found going to space was extremely bad for your DNA. Would people even want to go to space anymore?
DeleteToday I read "NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings" about Mark and Scott Kelly. Both twins work at NASA, but Scott Kelly is the twin that spent time in outerspace to further develop science in how the human body reacts to the development. NASA claims that Scott's genes are 93% back to normal. The other 7% shows longer term changes in genes related to his immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks, hypoxia, and hypercapnia. Telomeres are the endcaps of chromosomes that shorten as one ages actually became significantly longer in space. NASA is now finding out that the majority of Scott's telomeres shortened within two days of Scott’s return to Earth (making him appear younger). I personally would never volunteer to go to space because I am affraid of heights and I do not like being isolated or bored. I think that the gravity from space made Scott's teleomeres smaller. I think Mark Kelly wishes he was the one that went to space for the aging part. I bet he is jealous that his brother looks a lot younger than him.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that Mark wishes he was the one that went to space.
Deletesame here, I wouldn't want to go to space for the same reasons.
DeleteI agree because he is risking his life for an experiment.
DeleteI disagree it's outer space how could you turn down an opportunity like that.
DeleteWhen reading the article about the identical twins that work for NASA, all I could question was if this job was a dream job for them as kids. I wonder if when they learned they have identical DNA, they wanted to find a job where it could be beneficial. I also found it interesting that the author compared this experiment and research to the nature v.s. nurture debate, because I didn’t necessarily view it that way. I also think it’s very interesting that 7% of Scott’s genes had long term changes after entering space, such as differences in his immune system, bone formation, and DNA repair. This is a super exciting advance in research for NASA, and i’m pretty excited to see how this will affect the future of space discovery and DNA research.
ReplyDeleteI agree, very interesting!
DeleteThe wonders of space are subjects that keep the minds of millions around the globe curious and still wondering. It is almost every child’s dream to become an astronaut; but as we grow older we realize how difficult this actually this. After reading a section about the human body in space, a lot of questions have been raised regarding the safety of it all. The article pointed out possible symptoms after space travel including bone deficiency, trouble with hand-eye coordination and possibly cancer from high exposure to radiation. Although the scientists at NASA are trustworthy, I personally wouldn’t want to take these risks. There is no doubt space is super cool but do the advantages weigh out the disadvantages? An experiment was presented to answer this question using two identical twins- Scott and Mark Kelly. Scott was sent to space for a year and a 7% change was seen in his genetic expression. His telomeres became longer which acted as an ‘anti-aging’ system. Other aspects were discovered as well including changes to Scott's immune system. Despite being seemingly small differences, they could lead to a scientific breakthrough.
ReplyDeleteIn this study of genetics in space Scott Kelley had been sent into space to test its impact on genes. Scott is a twin of Mark Kelley. Nasa decided to send Scott into space for one year while keeping Mark on Earth to test environmental impacts on genes. Although no genes were entirely changed, nasa learned that a change in gene expression, how the genes appear from the outside, is due to oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation, and nutrient shifts. This year in space also extended the caps of his chromosomes by a significant amount. These tests were all conducted in space though. Upon his arrival back to Earth his genes had been changed yet again, but this time back to what they were when he left. This is an amazing discovery for nasa to make and possibly alter for future missions.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to be Mark knowing your brother is spending a year in space.
DeleteI find it very interesting how his genes almost went back to normal once he got back to Earth.
DeleteThis study was about a pair of twins named Scott and Mark Kelly. NASA wanted to study molecular profiles of twins with one on earth and one in space. One twins genes changed and that was the one in space. This could help further the study of genes by knowing where they could change.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the changes between both twins were drastic or minor?
DeleteHow do you think this flight affected both of their lives forever?
DeleteI read the article about twins going into space. I found this very interesting because I never thought that being in space would have a huge affect on their bodies. But something that surprised me was that scouts body changed over time by 7%. But I wonder what was the ig reason for this test. In the end I really enjoyed this article and thought it was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the article was interesting.
DeleteI agree it's cool ow our bodies can changeover time in an environment like that!
DeleteThe article, “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings” was about a pair of identical twins, Mark and Scott Kelly. NASA sent one of the twins, Scott up into outer space to conduct an experiment relating to Nature Vs. Nurture and to see how the human body reacts to to the development. Scott’s genes are 93% back to normal and the 75% shows longer term changes in genes related to his immune system, bone formation networks, and more. I think that this is a really cool experiment because it shows us what happens when you go to space. If I had a twin and we were asked to do this, I don’t think I would want to do it because even though this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I don’t really think I would enjoy being up there for that long.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I wouldn't want to be up in space for such a long amount of time because there is a fear of the unknown, and all your family and friends are down on the ground.
DeleteI read the article “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings”. This article is about two identical twins Mark and Scott Kelly and scientists wanted to see if there was any change as Scott went into space and stayed there for a period of time. Scientists kept track of both Scott and Mark as they have been apart. Eventually when Scott came back from space scientists found out that Scott’s telomeres actually became significantly longer in space. This is actually really interesting because usually telomeres which are the end caps of chromosomes shorten as someone ages; but while in space they got longer. Once he came back down and adjusted back to earth's gravity his telomeres shortened once again within 2 days back. Also scientists found much more research like how he had a space gene and how they noticed he had a decrease in speed back down earth.I personally would not enjoy going to space for a study because I would just be so scared and feeling so alone. But,overall this article was very interesting for me to read and learn about, I thought the study was even more accurate with having an identical twin back down on earth.
ReplyDeleteMy main takeaway from this article was the emotional toll this must take on Mark, having his twin brother be the first American to spend a year in space, and he has to stay on the ground. I don’t think that space would have the effect to reverse aging. Although it could possibly slow it down, aging is a natural part of life, and simply going into space wouldn’t reverse the process. After reading this study, and attempting to navigate the website, I wouldn’t want to be an astronaut any more than I did yesterday, or the day before that. I would never last in space, and thinking about reverse aging kind of sounds scary, and I definitely won’t partake.
ReplyDeleteI totally thought the same thing. If I had a twin and they were gone in space for a year with out me, it would be emotional.
DeleteI agree while i find space to be very interesting i don't believe i could last very long up there.
DeleteBased on this article I would not want to be an astronaut that spends an extended time in space. Based on the findings, Scott's attitude changed, his eating changed and I do not want to change because of going to space. In addition, I don't think going to space can reverse aging. You physically and mentally cannot get younger than you already are. Finally, if Mark wanted to go into space, then I think he would of. I bet he just didn't want to go up into space so he didn't. I think he was not mad at his brother for going into space.
ReplyDeleteI read “NASA Twin Study Confirms Preliminary findings”. In the article it talked about how they were studying them settle the nature vs. nurture debate. It also talked about how Scott (Twin in space) chromosomes grew in length. Another thing the article mentioned is that 7% of Scott’s genes changed which include DNA repair, bone formation networks, hypoxia, and hypercapnia. Overall this article was pretty interesting in that space can change someone’s DNA forever.
ReplyDeleteI read the article, "NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings." In the article, it discussed the findings that NASA was able to discover while having one twin up in space and another down on the ground. I first thought about how they decided which twnm was going to go up and if the one left on Earth was upset. Personally, I think it would be pretty disappointing to find out your sibling got to go to space and you didn't. Their other findings were that the tip of Scott's chromosomes got longer while he was in space and they shrunk back down after he was back on Earth. That seems crazy because it just shows how the environment affects your health.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be disappointing to be the twin not to go into space, because then you wouldn't be able to experience the change in your DNA and see the effects being in space has on it.
Deletelearning about how the environment affects your health is quite fascinating
DeleteI thought it was interesting that the changing of the chromosomes were the only real affect on the body.
DeleteI read the preliminary findings article and found it interesting how this affected Scott. I find it weird that his telomeres grew in length but quickly returned within a few days. This also happened to all of his genes except for 7% which made me wonder why that 7% took much longer to return to normal. Based on their examinations of the twins I think it's cool that this ecperiment may help prepare for future missions to mars.
ReplyDeleteI read the article, “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings”. I learned that 7% of Scott’s, one of the twins, genes had long term changes after entering space. How crazy is that! Both twins are no longer identical because of the space’s atmosphere. Scientists discovered that Scott’s immune system, bone formation, and DNA repair had changed. I wonder if this occurs to other astronauts and not just Scott? I am incredibly excited for NASA’s research team, they should be really proud of the great work that they have done.
ReplyDeleteThis week, I read the article “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings”. After reading this article, I thought that it was really interesting to see the different effects that being in space had on one of the twins. I think that it would be very fascinating to go to Mars and see the toll that it plays on your DNA, so it would be extremely cool if more people got this opportunity. I do think that the length of Scott’s telomeres would have affected the aging process, but not too significantly because although they lengthened while in space, they went back to their original size when he returned to Earth. If his telomeres were longer the aging process might have been slightly reversed, but I don’t think that it would have made a significant change in his age either. If Mark Kelly was chosen to go into outer space, he probably would have taken the opportunity, so since he wasn’t the twin to go into outer space, I think that he does wish that he was so he could have experienced the change in his DNA as well.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the artical "NASA twins study confirms Preliminary Findings." I learned about the research NASA did by sending one twin into space for a year and keeping one on earth. They found that his chromosomes grew in length causing a similar reaction to anti aging. I found all of this information fascinating.I wonder what else we'll learn in our future space travels.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering about these future expeditions as well considering that NASA said that this would be the first of many twin studies.
DeleteThe article "NASA twins study confirms preliminary findings" was a very interesting article about two twins seperated, one going in space and the other staying home, to see what changes DNA wise etc. I personally would hate being seperated from my twin and frankly wouldnt want to see if our DNA changed. 7 percent of scotts genes changed, and thats so crazy that outer space can change youre actual self physically, not just mentally.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I most likely would be mad if my sibling was sent to space and I wasn't it didn't seem that Mark was angry about not being able to go to space, as this was for scientific research. I also don't think that time in space reverses aging. It just doesn't make sense that even though you're no longer affected by Earth's features, that you would age backwards. Time never stops and neither does aging. I did find it interesting that Scott's habits changed from being in space.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Nasas’s preliminary results from their twin experiment, I was shocked at the results. Despite being weightless and living in space for a whole year, his DNA had only changed slightly. They said there was only a 7% change. I was very surprised because I thought living in space for a year would take a huge toll on your body as it tries to adapt to a new environment, but that seems not the case. It also must be good for NASA because now they have proof of the little changes and harm caused by space travel.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it’s interesting that space can cause those changes to a human
DeleteI read the article about the NASA twin study where one twin was sent into space and one was left on earth and they tested their DNA and the twin that went to space and changed his genes about 7% from his twin that was on earth. Personally I would be sad to have to be the twin to stay on earth because both were trained astronauts. They also found that the tips of the twin in spaces chromosomes were longer so making it anti-aging in space since as you age the length of your chromosomes gets shorter. This shows that the environment that you live in does affect you adding to the nature vs nurture argument since it can be argued that space changes your body.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings”, I found it interesting how space can affect a person. I also wondered how they chose which twin went to space, or if maybe it was whoever wanted to. If it were me and my twin, I honestly wouldn’t want to go into space, but I also wouldn’t want my twin to go either because I would be too worried about them. The thing I found most interesting was that his chromosomes lengthened when in space, but shrunk back down when he came back to earth. I wonder what caused all of this?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the study about the NASA twins sent into space. One twin was sent into space while the other stayed home. When the trip ended, their genes were no longer identical. I was very shocked to find out that their genes were altered due to being in space. I think maybe this could a step closer unlocking the key to youth, since the length of chromosomes affects age.
ReplyDeleteI read the article, "NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings." Throughout the article I learned NASA preformed a study on two twins named Scott and Mark Kelly. Their goal was to find out if space would result in a change in genetics. By sending one twin who has the same genetics as someone else, they were able to conduct this study. I wouldn't want to be an astronaut because there is so much unknown about space, and I wouldn't be able to be away from my family for that long. However, Mark might be jealous because going into space is an experience only a fraction of people in the world get to see. It is incredible to see the vital role your environment plays in your growth and overall health.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the NASA twins going to space. I thought this article was interesting because I didn't know space could change someone's genes like that. However despite how cool this experiment is I don't think that I would want want to try this out for myself or go to mars.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article about the NASA twin study, I was surprised with the changes that were made to Scott. Scott is twins with Mark and they were doing a study on what happens when one twin goes to space and the other doesn't. With the environment change in space, Scott DNA only changed 7%. I expected it to change more which left me surprised. Personally if I had a twin and they got to go up to space I would be a bit jealous about it. Overall i think this was a cool experiment NASA did.
ReplyDeleteIn the study they tested a lot on what happens to the human body, from physical health to mental health when in space. By Preforming cognitive tests, and physical tests when the twin returned to earth. They also found that the 7% of the altered DNA point to possible longer term changes in genes related to his immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks,and hypercapnia. I Think that the itelomeres getting longer for that period of time may help the aging the process but it won't be permanent. Also the twin that didn't get to go to space probably was really upset, it was a once in a life time opportunity and they were both trained astronauts.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Also, how did they choose which of them would go to space? I feel like that would've been an awkward conversation.
DeleteThis weeks blog post was very interesting because I was unaware that DNA could change inside of you with the cause of environmental changes. NASA experimented with two identical twins where one of them lived a whole year at the ISS while the other remained on earth. What scientists found to be different was the gene expression. This usually happens to humans under a lot of stress. This happened during spaceflight and had not returned to normal after being on earth for 6 months. Scott kelly’s , the astronaut, stress came from oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation, and dramatic nutrient shifts. The way your body reacts with its environment can greatly impact your body. I wonder if going to Mars would be far too dangerous to achieve because of the amount of time their bodies would be under stress.
ReplyDeleteI read about the twins study and learned quite a bit. First I learned that not only was the experiment trying to find the affects space had on identical twins, but it also was furthering the advancement of safety for astronauts. Also this study was the first of its kind to compare molecular profiles of the twins. Finally, the study is a stepping stone to future long journeys in space. P.S. I would be heated if I wasn't the one to go to space especially if he came back looking younger.
ReplyDeleteThe Kelly twins contributed a huge part of their life to further the research of DNA, and how people change physiologically, and psychologically during trips to space. I have learned that spaceflight is associated with oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation, and dramatic nutrient shifts that affect gene expression. It seemed that changes occured due to the lack of gravity, but then eventually adapted to the gravity back on earth. For example, the telomeres, which are end caps of chromosomes that shorten with age, within the twin who went to space, elongated due to the zero gravity in space. However, the telomeres eventually shortened in a matter of two days of returning to earth. I have learned that many changes can occur while in space, and this twin study is a stepping stone to further the research of changes in an individual in space.
ReplyDeleteIf I was Mark I would be extremely jealous of Scott but at the same time more rested because I would wish that I could have gone to outer space but I wouldn't like being a human lab rat and getting more publicity. I also wouldn't like that my changed 7% in space because we don't really know potential side-affects for this. Also I would be concerned about why the tips of my chromosomes grew 7% although it is anti aging. Although all this happened to Scott I would still give almost anything to go into space.
ReplyDeleteThe Kelly twins were very interesting to read about. The fact that DNA can change in response to your environment is crazy, and it is a little odd that the author brought up the nature vs. nurture argument, because I did not originally view this story as such. The twin in space might've lived longer if he stayed in space, but when he returned to Earth, his telomeres shrunk back to normal. If I were the twin who didn't go to space, I would be devastated. It's not often that opportunities like this one come around, and he missed his chance.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading about the Kelly twins it was weird to see that even though his dna did not completely change. The way his dna expressed his self did. Which is crazy that even though your a twin your dna can change. Plus the fact that you can live longer in space is a weird fact that we might want to know for the future.
ReplyDeleteI read the article “NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings” and I would not like to go up into space anymore. I always found space very interesting, but I don't think i could stay away from my loved ones and be under that much stress for so long. Scotts mood changed and so did his chromosomes and stress level. The cons of staying in space in my opinion are a lot more than staying on ground. Overall, I would not like to be the twin that goes into space.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about the twins in the Kelly family. I found it very interesting how his DNA didn't completely change. Space is a fascinating place and I would want to go up there but if I had the chance, I would let my sibling go up instead. People's mood like Scott's changed along with his chromosome levels.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading the article about the twins who work at NASA I was wondering if they had both intentionally picked the same field to work in or if they had just been both interested to go into space. I thought it was interesting how the genes from the twin in outer space compared to the other twin on earth and how much they had changed over time. When Scott went into space he had a 7% genetic change which is a small percent but would actually be a big deal because of how just being away for just a year changed his genes.
ReplyDelete